Jaxson Dart enjoys discussing Mississippi victories, especially when 325-pound nose tackle JJ Pegues plays a key role. Pegues scored two short touchdown runs as the 12th-ranked Rebels rebounded from their first loss of the season to defeat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday, marking coach Lane Kiffin’s 100th career win.
Dart was heartbroken last week when Mississippi (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) lost to Kentucky at home, 20-17. But seeing Pegues succeed on offense near the goal line made Dart very happy.
“He’s so awesome,” said Dart, who has been the Rebels’ quarterback for three years. “He’s the only defensive tackle who can move like that in the whole country. He could honestly play tight end for us, too. He’s a special talent.”
The Rebels took advantage of two risky decisions by the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) to quickly take the lead and control the game. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who is known for his special teams strategies, tried a fake punt on fourth-and-1 at his own 36, but Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr. stopped Maurice Brown II short.
Just five plays later, Henry Parrish Jr. scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, putting the Rebels up 7-0.
On South Carolina’s next drive, they used quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford in a special formation. After Ashford slid in, he fumbled the ball, and defensive tackle Walter Nolen recovered it.
The Rebels then drove down the field, ending with Pegues’ first 1-yard rushing touchdown. The fifth-year senior took the snap directly and pushed through for the score.
“Any time he has the ball in his hands on offense, good things are going to happen,” Dart said.
Right before halftime, Pegues made another impressive play. He carefully stepped left to find an open path into the end zone, putting Mississippi ahead 24-3. This was his fifth career offensive touchdown, with four of them coming on the ground this season. He also caught a touchdown in 2022.
Coach Kiffin mentioned that Pegues, who played some tight end at Auburn before fully moving to the defensive line, is a special player, and they created the play he scored on specifically for him. “That says a lot about who he is,” Kiffin said.
Pegues and the defense took charge, keeping South Carolina from scoring a touchdown for the first time since their loss to Missouri last October, where they managed only four field goals.
Pegues also made two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
This win was a relief for Mississippi, which lost at home to Kentucky last week, 20-17. Another defeat would have significantly hurt the Rebels’ chances of making it to the College Football Playoff.
Kiffin, who has been the Ole Miss coach since 2020, reached this career milestone in his 13th season. He has also coached at Tennessee, USC, and Florida Atlantic.
Beamer was surprised by the outcome, stating it was “the most disappointed I’ve ever been as a head football coach in the way we played.”
“We were very undisciplined, to say the least, and that starts with me,” Beamer said. “We had a great week of practice, and I’m shocked at the way that we played.”
