Oct 24, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels defensive end Channing Ward (11) tackles Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kyle Allen (10) during the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
OXFORD, Miss. — A week after suffering a disappointing loss to Memphis, No. 24 Mississippi bounced back with a 23-3 victory over No. 15 Texas A&M in front of a season-high crowd of 60,674 on Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Laremy Tunsil returned to the lineup at offensive tackle and the Rebels’ running game showed dramatic improvement even though it settled for field goals in the first half.
And even without defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche in the lineup, Ole Miss more than held its own against the Aggies’ passing attack.
Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen was held to 90 yards in the first half. Allen, who threw three interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in the Aggies’ loss to Alabama, was intercepted by Kendarius Webster late in the first half.
It didn’t get any better for Allen the second half. He didn’t complete a pass in the third quarter, going 0 of 13, and his night came to an end early in the fourth quarter. He finished 12 of 34 for a career-low 88 yards.
Ole Miss (6-2, 3-1 SEC) had 141 yards on the ground in the first half after running for just 40 in the game against Memphis. The Rebels finished Saturday night with 230 yards.
Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly had a quiet first half by his standards, throwing for 116 yards.
Kelly’s arm strength and accuracy were on display early in the third quarter when he hit wide-open Laquon Treadwell for a 58-yard touchdown. That score put the Rebels up 23-3 and set the stage for the Land Shark defense to feast the rest of the way.
Kelly put a wrap on Ole Miss’ fifth home win this season by completing 25 of 40 passes for 239 yards. The only negative in his stat line were three interceptions.
The Rebels never trailed after they scored on their second possession of the game. Kelly found tight end Evan Engram for a 7-yard touchdown with 2:33 left in the first quarter.
Ole Miss led as much as 13 points before A&M got on the board for the first time. Gary Wunderlich had three field goals in the first half after missing his initial attempt on the Rebels’ first drive. His 22-yarder was set up by Webster’s interception at the A&M 33.
The Rebels clamped down on the Aggies defensively, allowing only 192 total yards.
NOTES: Ole Miss OT Christian Morris was carted off the field at the half with a herniated disk. Morris was taken to the hospital. … Evan Engram reached a milestone as he broke the Ole Miss record for yards receiving by a tight end. He ended the night with four catches for 35 yards. … A&M’s Armani Watts had 13 tackles in the first half and finished with a season-high 20.
