Ole Miss Rebels, Auburn Tigers Tied 14-14 At Half

The Ole Miss Rebels walked into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday to play the Auburn Tigers hoping to keep their early season momentum intact and leave with its fourth win there in series history.

The Ole Miss Rebels walked into Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday to play the Auburn Tigers hoping to keep their early season momentum intact and leave with its fourth win there in series history.

Auburn started the game on offense, and the Rebels' defense was up to the task. After just a 23-yard drive that resulted in a defensive stand on 4th and 1 by the Rebels at mid-field, quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Ole Miss offense didn't waste any time going on top. 

A 48-yard, nine-play drive ended with a Dart 11-yard touchdown pass to wideout Zakhari Franklin at the 4:55 mark of the first quarter. It was the only pass Dart threw during the initial drive as coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels' offense established the run early. Running back Quinshon Judkins carried most of the load with three carries for 39 yards on the drive.

The Tigers tied the game on the next drive with a 53-yard touchdown run by Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter, but the Rebels offense got the lead right back.

On the ensuing possession, Ole Miss easily marched down the field by again utilizing the ground game. Dart once again ended the drive with a touchdown, this time on the ground with a 29-yard run up the middle to give the Rebels the lead.

The Ole Miss defense stepped up once again and held Auburn to a three-and-out. 

But the Ole Miss possession lasted just three plays as Dart was intercepted by Tigers safety Donovan Kaufman who returned the ball 41 yards to the Ole Miss 24, setting up the Auburn offense in great field position.

It took just four plays for the Tigers to tie the game on a one-yard touchdown run by Hunter with 11:44 remaining in the second quarter, his second of the game.

The two teams exchanged punts before Ole Miss gave away three points on a botched field goal attempt from the Auburn 20 yard line. Holder Charlie Pollock muffed the snap and attempted a pass that was intercepted by Auburn safety Zion Puckett at the Tigers' five-yard line.

After another stop by the Rebels' defense, the Rebels got the ball back with 2:14 left in the half. But it was a disastrous possession that started with a muffed punt that Ole Miss was able to recover at their own 28 yard line. 

After a 28-yard catch by tight end Caden Preistkorn got the ball to the Auburn 44, Dart suffered two sacks of six and seven yards that moved the ball back out of field goal range at their own 44 yard line.

After a 12-yard kick by Rebels' punter Fraser Masin, Ole Miss safety John Saunders Jr. intercepted Tigers quarterback Robby Ashford on a deep ball. 

The Tigers' defense in the first half was helped by three sacks, five tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

Ole Miss receives the ball to begin the second half.