Defensive Struggle Breaks Out in First Half of A&M Game

By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

DaMarkus Lodge. Photo by Steven Gagliano.

A defensive struggle broke out in the first quarter of the Ole Miss versus Texas A&M game as both offenses tried to find their footing. At the half, the score was knotted at 14 in the SEC West showdown.

Ole Miss running back Scottie Phillips suffered an ankle injury on the second series of the game for the Rebels. 

Texas A&M got on the scoreboard first as quarterback Kellen Mond found the end zone from one-yard out late in the first quarter.

Ole Miss quickly responded with 14 unanswered points manufactured off the arm of senior quarterback Jordan Ta’amu. Ta’amu found wide receiver DeMarcus Lodge, a senior, on a 44-yard pass to tie the game on the first play of the second quarter. He then scored on a run to take a 14-7 lead on a one-yard scamper.

Lodge finished the half with three catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.

The Aggies tied the game up at 14 all, as Mond hit his wide out Cameron Buckley on a 21-yard strike. Mond finished the half going 13-of-19 for 152 yards through the air and a touchdown. 

Ta’amu went into the locker room throwing 8-of-9 for 203 passing yards and a touchdown. He rushed for six yards on six attempts with a touchdown.

The Rebels had 251 yards of total offense in the half while Texas A&M only gained 199 on the Landshark defense.