Mississippi defensive end C.J. Johnson (10) and defensive back Tony Conner (12) celebrate after the second half of an NCAA college football game in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. No. 15 Mississippi won 41-3. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Rebels started off Southeastern Conference play in dominating fashion as they traveled to Nashville Saturday and defeated a reeling Vanderbilt 41-3.
It was a complete display of power on both sides of the ball for the Rebels, as the lopsided victory was the largest margin of victory in an SEC contest since Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State 48-0 in 2008.
The history between the two schools has pointed in the Commodores’ favor lately. Vanderbilt had won six of the past nine meetings before the game Saturday.
Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was pleased to say the least with his team’s complete effort.
“Excited to get a road SEC win. Thought our kids played a pretty solid game. I thought Bo (Wallace) managed us really well,” Freeze said. “He made two decisions that he’ll probably look at the film and say ‘Man, I should’ve done something different.’ But I thought he played really solid.”
In the first win against Boise State, Rebel nation saw what they were used to; the good and bad of starting quarterback Bo Wallace. This week, Rebel fans saw the great Bo Wallace as he completed 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and one touchdown.
Wallace was replaced with 9:19 left in the third quarter after junior running back I’Tavius Mathers ran for a two-yard touchdown to increase the Rebel lead to 34-0.
Wallace being taken out of the game early is a sight fans usually don’t see very often, but it made Wallace happy.
“That was fun for me,” Wallace said. “I was watching Ryan (Buchanan) warm up, and I was just laughing at him because I could tell he was a little nervous. It was good. I think they really did a really good job.”
Redshirt freshmen Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade both saw time at quarterback when Wallace exited.
Wallace threw three interceptions in the first half against Boise State last week; this week Wallace did not turn the ball over once and played one his most efficient games of the season.
“That was the big thing for me, and I knew it,” Wallace said about taking care of the football. “I knew that I couldn’t force the ball. I think I did a good job of not doing that. I feel good about how I played.”
The offense clicked from the very start. The Rebels scored on seven of their first eight possessions of the game, and the punting unit did not see the field once.
The Ole Miss offense out-gained the Vanderbilt offense 331 to 76 at the half and 547 to 167 yards for the game. The Rebels pilled up 34 first downs for the game.
The tempo of the offense seemed to give the Vanderbilt defense fits. Sophomore tight end Evan Engram, who finished the game with seven catches for 112 yards, noticed the pace of the offense having an effect on the outcome.
“It definitely hurt them,” Engram said. “We could tell in their demeanor when we’re getting our tempo and our fast stuff in they were tapping out. We wanted to put our foot on the pedal. Our tempo was really good, and opposing defenses are not used to it. It worked out for us.”
The defense continued their swarming start to the season Saturday by holding Vanderbilt to just three points and nine total first downs on offense. Defensive coordinator Dave Wommack was very impressed with his defense for two weeks in a row and looks for continuity.
“I just wanted us to get better every week. That’s the most important thing we can do,” Wommack said. “I think we’re mature enough to come out there and practice. I think I told some guys we practiced extremely well this week. It wasn’t one of those things where we cruised through things. Our guys are mature enough to execute the game plan.”
The play that seemed to put the game out of reach was the opening drive of the second half for Vanderbilt, where senior defensive back Cliff Coleman intercepted a pass from senior Commodore quarterback Stephen Rivers and returned it 39 yards for the touchdown. The pick-six cushioned the lead to 27-0 for the Rebels.
The interception was Coleman’s first of his career and first touchdown of his career.
Hugh Freeze mentioned that he thought there was a time where he thought Coleman would not last in his program, but Coleman is thankful for the opportunity that he is given.
“Every time me and Coach Freeze talk I just tell him thank you for believing in me,” Coleman said. “I follow Coach Freeze’s rules and do what he asks and everything just worked out.”
The only points of the game for Vanderbilt came in the fourth quarter.
Kincade fumbled the ball inside the five-yard line, which set up the 26-yard field goal for Vanderbilt to make the score 41-3.
Even though the game was one field goal away from the Rebel defense getting the shutout, Hugh Freeze is marking it down as a shutout.
“I think our defense has a chance to be really good,” Freeze said. “We stopped the run primarily, and we were able to get some pressure on the quarterback and dint give up explosive plays. I think that’s the key for us this year.”
The same week that “It’s Time,” the story of Rebel legend Chuck Mullins premiered on the SEC Network, Ole Miss won by 38 points, the jersey number of Mullins.
Starting the season on the road in two neutral site games against two quality opponents is a tall order for a team looking to make the leap to the top in the SEC West. The Rebels have thrived in both situations and have prepared themselves for bigger situations in the future.
“I’m really pleased at this point that they’ve handled the environments that were really different,” Freeze said. “Didn’t quite feel like the energy that you feel from the stadiums that we play in normally. I thought we handled it well and executed decently for the most part. I’m pleased to this point.”
-Dylan Rubino
