Ole Miss Offense Showcases Explosive Potential Against Arch-Rival LSU

No. 20 Ole Miss edged No. 13 LSU in an offensive shootout at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was filled to the brim for a highly-anticipated SEC West matchup between two top 20 teams on Saturday night, and the home fans were treated to a performance by the Ole Miss Rebels offense that they had missed recently. 

After a disappointing performance on the offensive side of the ball against No. 12 Alabama last week, the Ole Miss offense found its stride today against the No. 13 LSU Tigers, The Rebels totaling 711 yards, the most in an SEC game in school history.

For the first time this season, the Ole Miss rush attack was consistent, and a healthy Quinshon Judkins started to hit his groove. The Rebels offense reverted to its usual style of playing at an explosive tempo, hence the 14-0 lead early in the first half. 

After a rocky start to the season for the offensive line, they paved the way for Judkins to establish the run game on Saturday night, something that made Ole Miss successful last season. Going into this game, Judkins had 201 yards through four weeks. Today, he had 182 yards, which nearly doubled his season total in one game. His longest rush of the season was 14 yards until he had a 39-yard run up the center on a "spin-o-rama" that set the Rebels inside the red zone. Backup running back Ulysses Bentley proved himself in the early weeks during Judkins' injury, and today, he contributed with 90 yards and a touchdown.

The Ole Miss offense was clicking on all cylinders on Saturday, putting up over 700 yards and 55 points in a win over LSU / Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report

Ole Miss had 322 yards on the ground today, which was nearly seven times what it had in last week's performance in Tuscaloosa. Having reinstated the rushing attack, LSU was forced to respect the ground game, which, in turn, created opportunities for the receivers to make plays downfield. Dart consistently found his wideouts cutting across the center of the field against what has been a subpar LSU secondary.

Receivers Jordan Watkins and Tre Harris did their part on Satruday, combining for 13 receptions, 256 yards and two touchdowns. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was stellar today as well and had no problem finding the receiver duo, as he threw for 390 yards, four touchdowns and rushed for 50 yards on the ground.

On Ole Miss’ final drive of the game, Dart and Harris showed up big. Dart found Harris down the field and set Ole Miss on the LSU 30-yard line. From there, he found Harris again on a check-down for a 13-yard score. Harris, a first year Rebel, is a complete playmaker and found separation on the outside for his sixth touchdown of the year, which sealed the deal.

Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has consistently operated his offense at an electrifying pace, and with their renewed momentum today, the offense has the potential to once again become one of the most intimidating threats in the nation.