Sunday Notebook: Wade’s One-Hander Highlights Rebels’ Defeat in Athens

ATHENS, Ga. – The two-time defending national champions put forth a nearly flawless effort at Sanford Stadium on Saturday night, and there was little No. 9 Ole Miss could do to answer No. 2 Georgia once it got rolling in a 52-17 final.

The Rebels came out swinging in the marquee SEC matchup, marching downfield on their first drive and punching in the game’s first touchdown. However, it was clear right from the start that the Georgia offense was clicking on all cylinders as they took a 14-7 lead.

Ole Miss answered UGA’s second score to knot it at 14, but everything fell in favor of the home team from there as the Bulldogs cruised to their 27th straight victory and their 25th straight home victory.

Human Highlight Reel

Like a finely tuned timepiece, Dayton Wade delivered his weekly jaw-dropping highlight-reel catch.

Another week, another insane Dayton Wade catch 🤯@__vierr | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/AdTnL7RJs9

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 12, 2023

Catch of the Year: Dayton Wade@__vierr | @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/QymeoXw5Dg

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 12, 2023

Though the game was in-hand late, and his starting quarterback was out of the game after a hard hit, Wade was giving his all to the final gun. With Spencer Sanders at the signals, Wade hauled in a ridiculous one-handed catch, hailed by ESPN and College GameDay commentator Kirk Herbstreit as the potential catch of the year in college football.

Wade showed off his otherworldly hands and body control once again with the latest in a long line of highlight-reel grabs by the senior receiver, but it didn’t make the defeat any easier, and he’ll look to do the same in a winning effort next time out.

“Most definitely. We all have a salty taste in our mouth because we came in here confident, not even thinking, just trying our best to win,” Wade said. “So, taking this loss is definitely going to leave a nasty taste in our mouth going into next week.”

Two for Q

Even against one of college football’s best defenses, and even on a night when the usually rhythmic Ole Miss offense couldn’t find its footing, Quinshon Judkins stayed hot.

Quinshon Judkins. That is all.@qaj4_ | ESPN pic.twitter.com/mcze8OtNSO

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 12, 2023

The sophomore out of Pike Road, Alabama, impacted the game in a big way early, notching both of Ole Miss’ touchdowns in the game, including finding paydirt with 12 UGA defenders on the field to tie the game at 14 early in the second quarter and become the first player with multiple rushing TDs against the UGA defense since 2020.

Even 12 men cannot stop @qaj4_ 😳

📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/TTNB14dboL

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 12, 2023

Judkins has scored in nine of 10 games this season, including each of the last six games. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year has three straight multi-TD games and 10 for his career, the third-most in program history.

Next Up: Ole Miss vs. ULM

Buy tickets for veterans and their families to attend the ULM game for only $11! https://t.co/jUcajUBfJ9 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jWtAcOJtkf

— Ole Miss Athletics (@OleMissSports) November 11, 2023

Ole Miss returns home this week for senior day and military appreciation weekend at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT.