Live Updates: Ole Miss Rebels vs. Louisville Cardinals
The Ole Miss Rebels and the Louisville Cardinals are set to battle it out on ESPN on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. CT in Atlanta as the Rebels look to make some noise in the SEC this season.
Ole Miss will be the favorite to win, but things could get dicey for the Rebels without Lane Kiffin in attendance.
Louisville's offense will be one to reckon with on its own, as quarterback Malik Cunningham is poised for a breakout season in 2021. Fortunately for Cunningham, the Rebels fielded one of the worst defenses in college football last season, ranking near the bottom of the nation in most major statistical categories.
Follow all the live updates, stats, analysis, and play-by-play on TheGroveReport.com in our live game blog below, or follow us on Twitter to keep up with the play-by-play.
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FIRST QUARTER
The Ole Miss offense took the field to start the game on Monday night, with Matt Corral completing his first play of the game for 25 yards to Dontario Drummond. After a Jerrion Ealy reception, Corral hit Jahcour Pearson across the middle for another big, deep into Cardinals territory.
Just a few plays later, including another big gainer to Ealy, the Rebels were in the end zone, capping off their first drive of the 2021 season with a touchdown, and taking a 6-0 lead on a Jerrion Ealy touchdown.
The extra point attempt was no good, however, leaving the score at 6-0.
Change of possession
Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham took the field for the Cardinals offense on the next possession, and after nearly going three and out, moved the Cardinals across the first down line with his legs.
Cunningham would then get another quick first down through the air and another with his legs, moving the Cardinals across midfield.
The Rebels would eventually get the Cardinals to fourth and short from the 38, where Chance Campbell would make a clutch stop for a loss on a Cunningham keeper, giving the ball back to the Rebels.
Change of possession
Despite the stop from the Rebels, the Ole Miss offense would be unable to capitalize, going three and out on three straight incompletions from Corral.
Change of possession
However, the Ole Miss defense would be up to the task, forcing a three and out of their own, resulting in a Louisville punt.
Change of possession
On their next offensive possession, the Rebels were able to move the ball efficiently, getting two quick first downs from Ealy. Corral then hit Drummon on a big pass across the middle, putting the Rebels deep in Cardinals territory.
The drive would get derailed by a sack from the Cardinals, forcing Ole Miss to attempt a long field goal. The attempt would split the uprights, putting the Rebels up 9-0 with 2:25 to go in the first quarter.
Change of possession
Things would take an unfortunate turn for the Rebels on the next drive, with Mark Robinson being ejected from the game on a targeting call on what would have been a third-down stop.
SECOND QUARTER -- Ole Miss 9, Louisville 0
After the quarter break. The Rebels would once again stand tall on defense, forcing the punt and taking over at their own seven yard line.
Change of possession
Ole Miss got off to a good start on the next drive, with Snoop Conner hitting a 10-yard run for a first down, and Corral hitting Braylon Sanders for a big gain on a crossing route, where he was tackled near midfield.
The Cardinals were able to hold the Rebels to fourth down, but Corral was able to extend the drive by getting a first down with his legs. The Cardinals would also be called for targeting on the play by linebacker Monty Montgomery, evening the odds.
The Rebels were in the endzone on a Matt Corral quarterback keeper just three plays later, and taking a 16-0 lead with 11:25 to go in the half.
Change of possession
On the ensuing kick, the Cardinals would be called for their second targeting pentaly in just minutes, with Tabarius Peterson being ejected from the game.
Following the penalty, the Rebels defense would once again rise to the occasion and force another three-and-out.
After the punt, the Rebels took over near midfield.
Change of possession
The Ole Miss offense would finally stall on their next possession, going three and out after a 15-yard penalty on offensive tackle Nick Broeker.
Change of possession
On the very next play, however, the Ole Miss defense would step up yet again, with DeAntre Price intercepting Malik Cunningham across the middle, and setting up Matt Corral deep in Cardinals territory.
Change of possession
The Rebels were in the endzone just three plays later, taking a 23-0 lead with 7:12 to go in the first half.
Change of possession
The Fourth targeting call of the half came on the next Louisville possession, with Lakia Henry hitting Cunningham with the crown of his helmet, making him the second Ole Miss linebacker to leave the game.
After the penalty, the Rebels defense was able to stand tall yet again, stopping the Cardinals on third down. However, Malik Cunningham was able to keep the drive alive with his feet on fourth down.
Just a couple of plays later, the Rebels defense stopped the Cardinals yet again, recovering a fumble on fourth down, and preserving the shut out with 44 seconds to go in the half.
Change of possession
unfortunately for the Cardinals, 44 seconds was too much to give the Rebels, who marched right dow the field and got in position for a field goal. The attempt was good, putting Ole Miss up 26-0 at halftime.
HALF TIME -- OLE MISS 26, LOUISVILLE 0
THIRD QUARTER
Out of the Locker room, Louisville looked to come out of the gates hot, and get on the board. However, after a penalty derailed the momentum of their attack, the Rebels were able to hold the Cardinals to just a field goal, and making the score 26-3 with 12:35 to go in the third quarter.
Change of possession
On the ensuing possession, Ole Miss would extend the lead back out to 26, however, with Corral leading the offense down the field and putting them in position for the field goal.
The attempt would once again split the uprights, making the score 29-3 with 8:22 to go in the half.
Change of possession
On their ensuing possession, the Cardinals moved the ball with efficiency all the way down the field, getting into position to get into the endzone for the first time on the night.
Though the Rebels were able to hold them to fourth down, Louisville would finally get across the goal line, making the score 29-10 with 2:41 to go in the third quarter.
Change of possession
FOURTH QUARTER: OLE MISS 29, LOUISVILLE 10
The Rebels responded quickly on their next possession, going 75 yards in seven plays, and capping the drive off with a Snoop Conner touchdown run, to extend the lead back out to 26 points at 36-10 with 14-11 to go in the game.
Change of possession
On their next possession, the Cardinals refused to go away, marching down the field and getting back into scoring position.
Though the Rebels would hold Louisville to a fourth down at the goal line, Cunnigham would eventually get the Cardinals back the board with his legs, cutting into the Rebel lead at 36-17 with 8:58 to go in the game.
Change of possession
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the Rebels would throw another haymker right back in their direction, with Ole Miss getting back into Louisville territory with ease.
The drive would culminate in Corral's first touchdown pass of the night, with Drummond reeling in the touchdown on an RPO, and putting the Rebels up 43-17 with 7:11 to go in the game.
In total, the Rebels response went 60 yards in just six plays, taking 1:47 off of the clock.
Change of possession
Despite the large deficit, the Cardinals, led by their quarterback, would refuse to go away, moving right back down the field against a now-vanilla Ole Miss defense, and get back into the end zone.
Cunningham capped of the drive with another quarterback keeper, giving him his fourth touchdown on the night, and making the score 43-24 Ole Miss with just over four minutes to go in the game.
Change of possession
From there, the Rebels would run out the clock, securing the 43-24 victory, and moving to 1-0 on the season.
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