325-pound JJ Pegues runs for 2 TDs as No. 12 Ole Miss posts 27-3 win over South Carolina
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws a pass for a first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. Credit: AP/Artie Walker Jr.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — JJ Pegues, a 325-pound nose tackle, ran for two short touchdowns as No. 12 Mississippi bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday and give coach Lane Kiffin his 100th career victory.
The Rebels (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of a pair of early gambles by the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) to build a quick lead and take control.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer — son of Frank Beamer, a coach known for special teams prowess at Virginia Tech — faked a punt on fourth-and-1 at his own 36 and Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr. stuffed Maurice Brown II short.
Five plays later, Henry Parrish Jr. ran for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead.
On South Carolina's next series, it lined up with quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford in the formation. After Ashford slid in, he fumbled the ball and defensive tackle Walter Nolen recovered.
The Rebels' subsequent drive ended with the first of Pegues' two 1-yard rushing scores. The fifth-year senior took the direct snap and pushed through the line for the TD.
Right before halftime, Pegues was at it again. This time, he gingerly stepped left to find an open lane into the end zone as Mississippi went up 24-3. It was his fifth career offensive score, four of those coming on the ground this season. He also had a TD catch in 2022.
Mississippi defensive tackle JJ Pegues (89) twists his way past South Carolina linebacker Debo Williams (0), defensive back O'Donnell Fortune (3), and defensive back DQ Smith (1) into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. Credit: AP/Artie Walker Jr.
Pegues and the defense took care of the rest as South Carolina was held without a touchdown for the first time since losing 34-12 with four field goals at Missouri last October.
It was a welcome result for Mississippi, which was beaten at home, 20-17, by Kentucky last week. Another loss and the Rebels' chances at the College Football Playoff would have taken a significant hit.
Kiffin, the Ole Miss coach since 2020, reached the career milestone in his 13th season.
The takeaway
Mississippi: The Rebels were not their crispest version of themselves with quarterback Jaxson Dart misfiring at times. He finished 14 of 27 for 285 yards and went without a touchdown throw for the first time this season.
Mississippi defensive tackle JJ Pegues (89) twists his way into the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. Credit: AP/Artie Walker Jr.
South Carolina: Things won't get easier for the Gamecocks, who follow up Ole Miss with trips to No. 1 Alabama and No. 19 Oklahoma before closing October at home against No. 25 Texas A&M. They'll need to find some offense in a hurry to navigate that stretch.
Up next
Mississippi is at No. 13 LSU next Saturday night.
South Carolina goes to top-ranked Alabama on Saturday.
