Here’s what we know about No. 15 Ole Miss through six quarters of this 2014 football season: when Bo Wallace doesn’t turn it over, they’re a pretty good team. And here’s what we know about Vanderbilt through an equally small amount of time: when Wallace doesn’t turn it over, they have no chance to play with these Rebels.
After tossing three interceptions in the first three quarters against Boise State - and playing to a 7-6 score - but rallying since, Ole Miss has outscored its opponents 48-6 over its past three quarters. The Rebels blew past Boise State 28-6 in the fourth quarter last week, and lead Vanderbilt 20-0 at the break at Nashville’s LP Field.
Wallace has completed 19-of-25 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, and Jaylen Walton has added eight rushes for 35 yards and a score. The game would be further out of reach, but the Rebels saw drives totaling 12 and 15 plays sputter in the red zone and settled for Andrew Fletcher field goals of 31 and 25 yards.
For Vanderbilt, it’s been more of the same from what we saw in the Temple game. And that means awful football. The Commodores have achieved 76 yards of total offense and five first downs. Stephen Rivers has hit on 2-of-8 throws for a grand total of 24 yards, and the ‘Dores’ ground game has totaled 52 yards on 14 rushes.
Vanderbilt still has not posted an offensive touchdown in the Derek Mason era. Sadly, that’s about the only intrigue this second half has to offer.