Rebels Capitalize On Crimson Tide Mistakes, Lead At Halftime
A rushing touchdown from quarterback Jaxson Dart is the difference in the ballgame, as the No. 15 Ole Miss Rebels lead the No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide at halftime 7-6 at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday.
Separate 40- and 16-yard receptions to wide receivers Dayton Wade and Zakhari Franklin and a 14-yard run from Quinshon Judkins helped set the Rebels up in the red zone. After Dart had his helmet knocked off and had to sit out a play, he returned and ran right up the middle untouched for 10 yards into the end zone to take a 7-3 lead.
Dart completed 11-of-18 passes for 125 yards in the first half.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe wasn't a threat through the air, but his legs hurt the Rebels on the Crimson Tide's opening drive. He ran for 19- and 20-yard carries that helped set up Will Reichard's 48-yard field goal to open the scoring midway through the first quarter.
The Ole Miss defense stood tall on two separate drives that were big momentum shifters against Alabama.
The Crimson Tide used a 40-yard completion to help get inside the Rebels' 10-yard line, but Milroe's pass was intercepted in the end zone by cornerback Zamari Walton.
After Ole Miss' ensuing drive stalled and a false start backed up Rebels punter Fraser Masin into the back of his own end zone, Alabama wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks blocked his punt and the Crimson Tide took over at the 1-yard.
Milroe couldn't handle center Seth McLaughlin's snap that sailed over his head for a loss of 13 yards. Back-to-back four-yard sacks resulted in Reichard's second field goal make of the game.
Ole Miss' defense recorded nine tackles for loss — four of which came on sacks of Milroe — in the first half, while Alabama committed three penalties for 25 yards.
