Rebels Offense Explodes Against Texas Tech

By Adam Brown
Sports Editor

Scottie Phillips blasting past the Texas Tech defense to score a touchdown. Photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy Ole Miss Athletics

The Ole Miss Rebels shined in the Lone Star state of Texas in a 47-27 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Houston to open the 2018 season.

Ole Miss’ (1-0) offense came in red hot and lit up the scoreboard on the second play of the game. As senior Jordan Ta’amu found sophomore D.K. Metcalf on a 58-yard touchdown. Texas Tech responded quickly with a touchdown on a 16-yard scamper by Da’Leon Ward.

Ole Miss then took the kickoff 94-yards by Jaylon Jones to go ahead 14-7 and never looked back the rest of the game. Kicker Luke Logan added a field goal from 24-yards out with 4:30 left in the quarter. Logan finished the game making four field goals.

The Rebels used a balanced attack of the ground game and the passing game. Running back Scottie Phillips got into the action early in the game with a 39-yard dash to pay dirt for a touchdown making it 24-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Texas Tech would then out score the Rebels 10-6 in the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown pass and a field goal.

At the break Ole Miss took a 30-17 advantage into the dressing rooms.

As the second half opened, both teams had settled into the high scoring affair and the Red Raiders scored on a 41-yard field goal. Ole Miss did not wait long to answer back, 51 seconds later Phillips scored his second touchdown of the day on a 65-yard run. He finished the game with a career debut in a Rebel uniform with 204-yards, 16 touches and two touchdowns.

Ta’amu found his preseason All-America A.J. Brown on a 34 yard touchdown strike early in the fourth quarter. The Ole Miss quarterback threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns.

Ole Miss returns to action on Sept. 8 as they “Lock the Vaught” against Southern Illinois. Kickoff slated for 3 p.m.