Jaxson Dart throws for 382 yards, 4 TDs as No. 5 Ole Miss routs Georgia Southern

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st September, 23:42 2024

Sep 21, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) reacts with wide receiver Jordan Watkins (11) after a touchdown during the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Jaxson Dart continued to build his Heisman Trophy resume as he threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 5 Ole Miss to a 52-13 victory over Georgia Southern on Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

In their final non-conference game before entering SEC play, the Rebels (4-0) gave up a touchdown for the first time this year but still were dominant as they outgained the Eagles 607-194.

Dart, who entered with an FBS-high average of 390.7 passing yards per game, finished with 22 completions in 31 attempts with one interception.

Tre Harris had 11 receptions for a career-high 225 yards and two touchdowns. Antwane Wells Jr. and Jordan Watkins also had touchdown catches for Ole Miss.

Henry Parrish Jr. contributed 89 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries for the Rebels.

Georgia Southern (2-2) of the Sun Belt Conference was paced by JC French, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 109 yards with one interception.

On 18 rushes in the first half, the Eagles netted 0 yards. Chris Paul Jr. led the Rebels defense with 10 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.

Ole Miss got off to a quick start. On its first snap, Dart completed a 40-yard pass to Harris. On the next play, Dart fired a 35-yard touchdown pass to Wells to make it 7-0.

On its first play from scrimmage, Georgia Southern botched a handoff on a jet sweep and JJ Pegues recovered for Ole Miss. Four plays later, Caden Davis kicked a 28-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 10-0 lead less than two minutes in.

The next time Ole Miss got the ball, Dart capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Watkins, giving the Rebels a 17-0 advantage.

Georgia Southern's touchdown came early in the second quarter on a halfback toss as OJ Arnold completed a 12-yard pass to Derwin Burgess Jr., cutting the deficit to 17-7.

Ole Miss resumed control as Harris beat one-on-one coverage and Dart hit him in stride on a 70-yard touchdown strike that put the Rebels up 24-7.

After the intermission, Ole Miss relied on its running game to milk the clock.

Pegues, a 325-pound defensive tackle who also gives the Rebels a unique weapon as a short-yardage back, had the highlight of the second half when he vaulted over defenders on a 1-yard touchdown run that put the Rebels up 31-7.

--Field Level Media

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