OXFORD – Ole Miss Rebel quarterback Chad Kelley set an Ole Miss record for most career 300-yard passing games tonight, but it was not enough to overcome the Auburn Tigers, who put up 554 yards of total offense on their way to a 40-29 victory at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium.
In what is becoming a trend, Kamryn Pettway led the attack for Auburn, carrying the ball 30 times for 236 yards and a score. In limited duty, the returning Kerryon Johnson carried the ball 11 times for 42 yards and crossed the goal line twice.
Sean White was quietly efficient, going 15 for 22 for 227 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target was Eli Stove who had five catches for 37 yards. Kyle Davis added one catch for 15 yards and a score.
Starting the high scoring affair was Ole Miss. Kelley was laser-like on the Rebels’ first possession, going 9 of 11 for 73 yards on the first drive of the game. Kelly capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Evan Engram. Auburn blocked the PAT and Ole Miss went on top 6-0.
On the Tigers’ first drive, Ole Miss was fed a heavy diet of Pettway and Johnson. The two combined for eight carries, but the big blow was a 41-yard blast from Pettway. Carlson was true with the extra point and Auburn took their first lead of the game.
Ole Miss answered right back with a 10-play, 90-yard drive that ended with a 26-yard strike from Kelly to DaMarkus Lodge. Gary Wunderlich booted the PAT through the uprights and the Rebels took the lead back 13-7. Auburn returned the favor and scored again when Carlson nailed a 45-yard field goal attempt to make the score 13-10 in favor of Ole Miss as the first quarter came to an end.
Ole Miss continued the success they had in the first quarter, scoring on their first drive of the second frame, a 20-yard field goal from Wunderlich, making the score 16-10.
Auburn’s first drive of the second quarter was the Pettway show. He rushed four times for 74 yards, down to the Ole Miss 1, where Johnson took it in on third-and-goal. Carlson added the PAT and Auburn took the lead back 17-16.
The Tiger lead was short-lived as the Rebels came right back down the field on the strength of Kelly’s arm and Akeem Judd’s legs. Ole Miss marched the ball down to the Tiger 32, but the Auburn defense kept them out of the end zone. Ole Miss settled for a 49-yard field goal off the foot of Wunderlich and took the lead back 19-17. Both Auburn and Ole Miss added field goals before the half as the Rebels took a 22-20 lead to the locker room.
After neither team punted in the first half, the offenses had trouble getting going in the second, that was until White hit Jalen Harris for a 15-yard touchdown strike to give the lead back to the Tigers 27-22. Ole Miss answered right back as Kelly was money on the drive, ending the seven-play, 76-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Stringfellow. Wunderlich added the PAT and Ole Miss was back on top 29-27 as the third quarter came to an end.
Every head coach says to be successful, you have to win the fourth quarter. Auburn not only won the fourth quarter, they dominated.
The Tigers started the fourth with a 30-yard field goal by Carlson, their first of three scores in the frame. After a three and out, Auburn went right back to work, driving the ball to the Rebel 30 where Carlson nailed a 47-yard field goal to put Auburn on top 33-29. The final nail in the Ole Miss coffin came on their next possession. On third-and-8, Kelly was intercepted by Joshua Holsey who returned the ball to the Ole Miss 25. From there Pettway pounded the ball down to the Ole Miss 3, where Johnson carried it in on first-and-goal. The PAT was good, giving Auburn a 40-29 lead, and that’s where the final score stayed, as Auburn ran out the clock in the victory formation.
Auburn is now officially bowl eligible and will return to Jordan-Hare next week to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in another SEC contest.
Copyright 2016 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
