Topping 70 points in two consecutive games is no easy task, but the Ole Miss offense did just that – making 149 points for the Rebels the most in a two-game span in school history and landing Ole Miss a top 15 spot on this week’s AP Poll.
Junior transfer quarterback Chad Kelly was once again the star of the show and totaled five offensive touchdowns; four through the air and one on the ground. Kelly completed 20-25 passes for 346 yards in the game. Four of Kelly’s touchdowns came in the first quarter alone, and the Rebels totaled 304 yards in the quarter.
Even with another explosive performance on both sides of the ball, Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze saw positives, and, at the same time, felt the team lost some of its intensity at points in the game.
“We started off well, then we kind of lost the edge. Some of the fault in that is mine,” Freeze said. “You always have to have urgency to improve your team. I didn’t think we were extremely focused in our preparation Friday or this morning. We need to continue to work at increasing that.”
The two dominant offensive performances sets the Rebels up with a showdown this Saturday at Alabama, which will be headlined by ESPN’s College Gameday Saturday morning in Tuscaloosa.
Going into Alabama for a 8:15 CT kickoff isn’t new territory for the Rebels. Ole Miss lost to Alabama in 2013 25-0 under the same circumstances as this Saturday will be.
What changes this time around is the quarterback situation. With two strong performances from Kelly, Freeze named him the starter for the rest of the season after the game Saturday.
“Chad Kelly is the starter,” Freeze told the media. “Chad has certainly done nothing to put himself out of the job, so he is the starter. I expect that to continue.”
Kelly will make his first road SEC start in a hostile environment at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday night. Kelly said he feels comfortable with the tempo and pace of the offense and wants to continue the same game plan going into Alabama.
“I don’t think there’s anything different,” Kelly said. “I just need to keep working to make sure I’m making the right move on every single play, because one play can decide the whole game.”
Kelly may have a new favorite target in junior wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo, who finished the game with five catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly also found senior wide receiver Cody Core with ease as Core totaled six catches for 96 yards and one score.
Kelly seems to have a good connection with the wide receivers in just two games and Adeboyejo praised Kelly for his recent play.
“His deep balls are one of the better balls I’ve encountered from high school and since I’ve been here,” Adeboyejo said. “He just has really good touch on his deep balls. I think we’re all excited about that.”
The Ole Miss offense reached 607 total yards for the game, the second straight game with more that 73 points and 600 yards, the seventh-most in program history.
The landshark defense did not disappoint, either. The defense held Fresno State to 316 total yards and only 21 points, 14 of which came in the first half. The defense also forced four turnovers.
The Rebels had two interceptions in the third quarter which stalled the Bulldog offense for the rest of the game. Senior defensive back Trae Elston had his second pick-six of the season, returning an interception 38-yards for the score.
In his first game of the season, senior linebacker C.J. Johnson intercepted Fresno State quarterback Chason Virgil early in the third quarter and returned it 70 yards to the Fresno State 20-yard line.
Freeze jokingly said he felt Johnson ‘ran out of gas’ at the end of his interception return.
“I did run out of gas, badly,” Johnson replied later. “It felt good, man. Just to be out there with the team and doing my part felt great.”
Freeze said he enjoyed having Johnson on the field.
“He loves playing the game,” Freeze said. “He loves Ole Miss and he got his degree, which I’m very proud of him. Glad he got to get out there and get some work in, but he did look a little slower from the 50 and in on that return.”
With two games and two dominant performances in a row, many players said they feel confident going into their showdown against Alabama this Saturday.
“It’s going to be electrifying,” Chief Brown, senior safety, said. “It’s one of my favorite places to play. The fans are so loud and genuine. It’s just a good atmosphere to play in. We’ll be ready.”
