Jonathan Mingo’s record-breaking day helps Rebels come from behind to beat Vandy, 52-28
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Rebels needed a record-breaking day from wide receiver Jonathan Mingo to come from behind and defeat Vanderbilt on the road. Although Ole Miss trailed the Commodores at halftime, a 21-0 third quarter propelled the Rebs to the 52-28 win.
Mingo finished with 247 yards in the game, breaking Elijah Moore’s prior record of 238 yards that also came against Vanderbilt.
Here’s Mingo’s 72-yard TD catch from Dart!
Mingo’s 238 yards receiving today tie him with Elijah Moore for the single-game record. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/MrDeMiLGH9
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) October 8, 2022
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
Saturday, Vanderbilt looked prime to beat No. 9 Ole Miss by leading early but Ole Miss, with the help of Mingo, stormed back. The Rebels are now 6-0 after surviving the scare. Vanderbilt falls to 3-3 and 1-2 in the Southeastern Conference.
First-half action
Ole Miss took the opening kickoff and methodically drove down field, but after reaching the Commodores’ red zone, a penalty cost the Rebels a chance at a touchdown.
But Jonathan Cruz got Ole Miss on the scoreboard with a 35-yard field goal to give the Rebels a 3-0 early lead.
The Rebels committed three penalties on the drive including a personal foul on the field goal.
That penalty gave Vandy great field position to start its initial drive. The Commodores were able to drive deep into Ole Miss territory, but the Rebels’ defense stiffened, and Vanderbilt had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Joseph Bulovas to tie the score 3-3.
After Ole Miss turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession Vanderbilt took advantage. The Commodores drove 68 yards to a 36-yard touchdown pass from AJ Swann to Jayden McGowan. The conversion gave Vandy a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Ole Miss took possession after the kickoff and immediately gave it back to the Commodores. Jaxson Dart threw an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by De’Rickey Wright at midfield. That led to another field goal and Vanderbilt led 13-3 with 11:22 left in the half.
The Rebels answered on their next drive. Dart hit Jordan Watkins on a crossing route and the Louisville transfer took the short pass at the Rebs’ 46 and ran for the rest of the way for a 61-yard score. The kick by Cruz closed the Vandy lead to 13-10.
Vandy ended the half by mounting a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock as Ray Davis ran five yards into the end zone on a fourth down and suddenly, Ole Miss found itself down 20-10.
But the Rebels responded before the break. Dart hit Jonathan Mingo with a 48-yard pass to set Ole Miss up at the Commodores’ 2-yard line and from there Quinshon Judkins blasted in for the touchdown. Cruz’ kick cut the deficit to 20-17 at halftime.
Kiffin commented on what that scoring drive meant. “Huge….you could see the energy on the sidelines…” he said after the game.
Second-half action
Ole Miss finally took the lead with just under ten minutes left in the third quarter. Zach Evans capped an 83-yard drive by sprinting over the goal line from 24 yards. Cruz added the kick and the Rebels led 24-20.
The Rebels got a gift on the next Vandy possession. Ladarius Tennison jumped on a backwards pass and a play later, Judkins exploded into the end zone six yards and the Cruz kick gave Ole Miss an 11-point advantage, 31-20.
The next offensive play Ole Miss ran, the lead grew. Dart found Mingo alone behind the Commodores’ defense and hit him with a 71-yard scoring strike. After the kick, the Rebels led by 18, 38-20. That margin held through the end of the third quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Ole Miss salted the game away. Dart hit Mingo with a short pass and the senior took the ball 72 yards for a touchdown that secured the Rebels’ sixth win of the season.
“Really cool day for Mingo to break Elijah’s record that was done here,” Kiffin said of Mingo.
“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 Jonathan Mingo
Vandy scored late and Ole Miss responded to provide the final margin.
(Photo courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics)
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
