LIVE: Ole Miss Can’t Execute at End, Fall to Kentucky, 20-17

OXFORD, Miss. — Now we are starting to find out how Kentucky managed to play Georgia so close. They are doing the same thing to No. 6 Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway.

The Rebels are helping them. Lane Kiffin talked about it going into halftime with the ABC television reporter about the eight penalties that are killing the defense.

As a result, the Wildcats have taken a 10-7 lead into the break.

The Rebels got the opening kickoff after winning a review of a fumble on the opening kickoff after Micah Davis had the ball slip out on a 15-yard return. It didn’t take long.

Dart hit Henry Parrish, Jr., and Cayden Lee before goig to Tre Harris and a 39-yarder moved it to the Kentucky 1. Parrish carried it in from there and an early 7-0 lead. Ole Miss needed just six plays to go 83 yards.

Alex Raynor answered with a 27-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, cutting the Rebels’ lead to 7-3.

Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) runs the ball as Ole Miss Rebels defensive back Jadon Canady (28) and linebacker TJ Dottery (6) make the tackle during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Second Quarter

Nobody else scored the rest of the period as Ole Miss’ defense was bending, but not breaking. Penalties again hampering the Rebels as they already have five for 28 yards.

Late in the second quarter Kentucky put together a drive and the Rebels kept committing penalties on the back end of the defense to let the Wildcats keep drives alive.

Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandergriff threw a 5-yard pass to Dane Key, after Trey Amos was called for another holding penalty in the end zone on a third-down pass.

It’s the first time the Rebels have trailed all season with a record low of just 7 points in the first half.

Ole Miss Rebels defensive back Trey Amos (9) breaks up a pass intended for Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Dane Key (6) during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Third Quarter

Ole Miss stops Kentucky to begin the second half on a three-and-out, then Dart directs a 10-play, 51-yard drive before having to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Caden Davis to tie the game at 10-10.

The Wildcats immediately drove back down the field to re-take a 13-10 lead on a 48-yard field goal by Raynor to re-take the lead, 13-10, with 6:31 left in the third period.

On a fourth-and-7 play, Dart hits a wide open Harris across the middle, then he changed course and out-ran defenders to the left corner of the end zone for a 17-13 lead with 10 seconds left in the third period.

Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Tre Harris (9) stiff arms Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Zion Childress (11) after a catch during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Fourth Quarter

On a fourth-and-7 (just like Ole Miss had at end of third quarter), Vandergriff found Barion Brown down the left sideline for a 63-yard gain to the Rebels’ 17. An 11-yard run by Demi Semokarngbaye got the Wildcats close.

Kentucky’s Gavin Wimsatt was fighting for the end zone and had the ball stripped by Trey Washington and the fumble was recovered by the Wildcats in the end zone for 20-17 lead with 2:25 left in the game.

Ole Miss hit a fourth-down pass from Dart to Caden Prieskorn for 63 yards but didn’t execute and actually lost yardage. Caden Davis’ 48-yard field goal attempt with 48 seconds left was wide to the left and Kentucky comes out with a 20-17 win.