The first quarter today in Oxford, Mississippi went about as expected for anyone who has watched Ole Miss play a football this season. The Rebels jumped all over Georgia with a 17-0 first quarter advantage, doubling the offensive production of the Bulldogs and forcing a turnover and returning it for a score. Of course, what happens after building a double-digit lead is what has been the story of the season for Ole Miss this season, with two blown double-digit leads resulting in losses against Florida State and Alabama. At the half, Ole Miss leads Georgia by a score of 31-0, and even they may be able to hold on to this one.
The Rebels opened the scoring at home on their first offensive possession by settling for a field goal by Gary Wunderlich from 24-yards out. The defense would be responsible for the first touchdown of the afternoon when Derrick Jones stepped in front of a pass from freshman quarterback Jacob Eason and returned it down the left sideline for a 52-yard pick-six and a 10-0 lead. The Ole Miss offense would get in gear the next time they held the football by driving 84 yards on 10 plays for a touchdown. D’Vaughn Pennamon picked up the goal-line touchdown to cap a drive highlighted by a 37-yard pass from Chad Kelly to Evan Engram from the Ole Miss 42-yard line.
Kelly would step away form a defender and unload a 55-yard touchdown pass to DaMarkus Lodge in the second quarter to extend the lead to 24-0. The lead was pushed to 31-0 when Kelly connected with Engram inside the 10-yard line late in the first half. Kelly has completed 13-of-17 pass attempts for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Eason has completed just seven of 21 attempts for 64 yards. It hasn’t helped that Georgia receivers have had a knack for dropping passes that would help bail Eason out at times, especially in the second quarter.
Georgia receivers today: pic.twitter.com/aGVGjjgJGb
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) September 24, 2016
Georgia has converted just one third down out of 10 (although they have gone two-for-three on fourth down). Ole Miss has out-gained Georgia 323-186. If you think Georgia has Ole Miss right where they want them based on prior results this season, keep in mind that both Florida State and Alabama managed to snatch the momentum right before halftime against Ole Miss. That did not happen this afternoon for the Georgia, who is well on its way to the firts loss under heard coach Kirby Smart.