Dime-Dropping Delights: Rebels’ Passing Game Opens Up, Notches Record-Setting Day in 52-28 Win
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was all about the ground game for Ole Miss through the first five weeks of the season, as star running backs Zach Evans and Quinshon Judkins pounded the opposition en route to a 5-0 start for the Rebels.
Entering week six against a Vanderbilt Commodores team that struggles in the secondary, it was prime time to see what transfer quarterback Jaxson Dart was made of.
Dart and his talented receiving corps delivered.
Dime-Dropping Delights
Although the Rebels opened the game by heavily involving Evans, a slow start prompted offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and head coach Lane Kiffin to open up the playbook a little bit.
Entering the contest, Vanderbilt had allowed 1,496 passing yards and 13 receiving touchdowns, while allowing just 790 yards on the ground.
Although Dart has shown flashes of greatness this season, mixed in with a few mistakes, this was the first time Ole Miss fans really got to witness him air it out and get the receiving group involved.
With the Rebels trailing 13-3 early, Vanderbilt lost Jordan Watkins in coverage and Dart took advantage of good pass protection to zip a pass right into his hands, and Watkins did the rest, taking it 61 yards to the house to bring the Rebels within three points.
Longest play of the year for the Rebel offense!@JaxsonDart ➡️ @jordantwatkins
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sXetF pic.twitter.com/ADD5EU18n7— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
After Vandy went back up by ten, Dart would show off his potential with the deep ball, dropping a beautiful pass right into the bread basket of Jonathan Mingo to set the Rebels up inside the five yard line.
The setup…@JaxsonDart ➡️ @ogmingo1k
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sXetF pic.twitter.com/fK6Qdvkmlo— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
Mingo, who had to have foot surgery and miss most of the season last year, is just thrilled to be back on the field.
“God has put me through a lot of paces, telling me just to be patient… It’s just a blessing to be out there on the field and I don’t take any day for granted.“
Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo
Quinshon Judkins would then score to bring Ole Miss within 20-17 at the half.
Second-Half Heroics
With Ole Miss trailing by three to open the second half, all eyes were on whether or not the Rebels would end the second-half scoring droughts that have plagued them this season. Dart and company made sure nobody had to worry.
After Evans gave Ole Miss a 24-20 lead with a 24 yard scamper, Ladarius Tennison would scoop up a Vanderbilt fumble to set Ole Miss up inside the ten yard line yet again. Judkins would then score to make it 31-20 Rebels, and that’s when Dart and Mingo began to just show off.
On the next drive, Dart unleashed an absolutely beautiful toss, once again landing right in the hands of Mingo, for a 71 yard score to give the Rebels a 38-20 edge.
Wow, that escalated quickly.@JaxsonDart ➡️ @ogmingo1k
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sXetF pic.twitter.com/qNdODWLIez— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
And the dynamic duo wouldn’t need long for the next score either. Ole Miss would finish off its third-consecutive, one-play drive, this time with a short pass to Mingo, who would proceed to leave the Vandy defense in his wake on his way to a 72-yard touchdown.
MING😳@JaxsonDart ➡️ @ogmingo1k
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sXetF pic.twitter.com/G3eCRKBKzk— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
With that play, Mingo tied Elijah Moore’s single game receiving yards record at 238. With the Rebels enjoying a comfortable lead, only one thing really remained to do: break the record. And Dart would ensure Mingo did just that, adding a nine yard completion to give Mingo 247 yards on the day, a new record.
Mingo was then removed from the game, coming off the field to a huge ovation from the Ole Miss faithful in attendance.
Jonathan Mingo sets the Ole Miss single-game receiving yardage record!
9 grabs, 247 yards, 2 scores for @ogmingo1k!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/YbivITNhzZ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
“Really cool day for Mingo to break Elijah’s record that was done here. Great day by him… He’s worked hard. He’s one of the coolest kids we have by the way he works. Totally unselfish.”
Lane Kiffin on Mingo’s record setting day
“Originally during the game I didn’t know I had that many yards until I had three or four to go. It’s a blessing. Elijah is someone I really look up to.”
Jonathan Mingo on breaking Elijah’s record
All Focus, No Stress
As for Dart, his second-half performance is one that is sure to give him a huge confidence boost. He finished the contest with a final line of 25-32 for 448 yards and two touchdowns.
Jaxson Dart threw for 448 Pass Yds and 3 TD vs. Vandy to lead Ole Miss to its second 6-0 start in the past 60 seasons 🎯
(📍 @NavyFederal) pic.twitter.com/GQBL9agZ3q
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 9, 2022
Despite two interceptions on the day, Dart is remaining focused and learning from each week and every situation. And most importantly, he never ceases to build up his teammates.
“There was no stress or anything like that. That score right before half gave us some momentum… for us, we were just coming out focused on having a big second half… That’s why you come to Ole Miss, you’ve got great players around you.“
Jaxson Dart
It Doesn’t Get Any Easier
After a big comeback win on the road in Nashville, the Rebels are 6-0 and already bowl eligible. But Ole Miss has to quickly shift focus to SEC West foe Auburn.
The Tigers have won six consecutive games against the Rebels, some in absolutely brutal fashion. Auburn is having a down year, but the Rebels can’t afford to overlook the Tigers. There’s no such thing as an easy win in the SEC, particularly in the SEC West.
The game will kick off at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN, marking the Rebels’ fifth consecutive daytime kickoff. Ole Miss opens as a 13.5 point favorite. The Rebels have been favored in every game to this point.
(Feature image credit: (John Amis / Associated Press)
Austin Eldridge
Austin has more than ten years in sports media, including sports talk radio, play-by-play broadcasting and journalism. He has followed Ole Miss athletics for his entire life and has covered the Rebels and the rest of the SEC while working in the Memphis media market. Outside of sports media, Austin is a musician and outdoorsman. Before a serious accident forced him to be medically discharged, he was a multi-media journalist with the Mississippi National Guard.
