OXFORD — In the first three games of the season, junior quarterback Chad Kelly looked like a man who played football with a cape and a big ‘S’ on his chest.
Entering the No. 3 Ole Miss football team’s game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Kelly was leading the nation in yards per completion (19.11) and yards per pass attempt (12.3), and was second in the nation in passing efficiency (205.7). He had thrown for 898 yards, nine touchdowns (one interception) and was completing 65 percent of his passes. With numbers like that, it’s easy to see why Ole Miss supporters were looking for places to put telephone booths so Kelly would have spots to change into his Superman gear.
On Saturday night, Kelly showed us all he is human, as he struggled against Vanderbilt’s Cover 2 defense. Kelly’s numbers (24 of 42, 321 yards, one touchdown) were decent, but he also threw two interceptions and looked indecisive on several occasions as he struggled to locate open receivers. Kelly’s lackluster night and the Rebels’ problems running the ball between the tackles added up to a lethargic 27-16 victory against the gritty Commodores in front of an announced sellout crowd of 60,654.
“Compliments to coach (Derek) Mason and his squad. He had his kids ready to play,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “We did not have our team prepared as well, especially in some critical areas, such as third downs and red zones.”
When asked about specifics on the Rebels’ struggles on third down (3-for-13), Freeze said, “We struggled with their two-man twist that gave us pressure. We had some bad play calls on third down, so we had very little chance at times. Again, a lot of credit goes to Vanderbilt. They are a better team than people give them credit for.”
Kelly, who led East Mississippi Community College to the National Junior College Athletic Association national title, took full responsibility for his less-than-stellar showing and praised Vanderbilt.
“They (Vanderbilt) did some things we were not prepared for,” Kelly said. “They showed it (the defensive scheme) a couple of times in games last year, but not this year, so, that’s on me personally and I take full responsibility for it, and we just have to work to get better for the next game.”
When asked about the confusion that led to the interceptions, Kelly said, “I just made two big mistakes on those. That is something I just can’t do, which is turn the ball over.”
Freeze said Kelly made two bad reads on the interceptions. He said Kelly “threw the ball into the boundaries of a Cover 2 safety. Both picks were into the same coverage. We have to coach Chad (Kelly) better on that.”
With the teams tied at 13 late in the third quarter, Ole Miss forced Vanderbilt to punt from its 36-yard line. Sophomore walk-on Cale Luke burst through the left side of the punt team and blocked the punt. Ole Miss recovered at the 20. After eight plays, three penalties on Vanderbilt, a touchdown overturned on review, and a fumble recovery at the 1, Ole Miss finally scored the go-ahead points on a 1-yard run by junior defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche out of the Power-I formation. The extra point by Gary Wunderlich gave the Rebels a 20-13 lead.
Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) withstood a late scare in the fourth quarter when, after Kelly’s second interception, the Commodores moved to the Rebels’ 19, trailing 20-16. After a 9-yard completion on first down from quarterback Johnny McCrary to receiver Trent Sherfield moved the ball to the Rebels’ 10, the Ole Miss defense stopped Vanderbilt for losses on the next two plays. Kicker Tommy Openshaw was then wide left with a 32-yard field goal that would have cut the Rebels’ lead to 20-19 with 9 minutes, 28 seconds to play.
Ole Miss then marched 80 yards in nine plays to seal the game. Jaylen Walton’s 3-yard run and Wunderlich’s kick provided the final margin.
“We need to be more efficient,” Freeze said. “We had 11 penalties for 120 yards, and we turned the ball over tonight. That is not elite football. We did not have a good third-down plan, and we need to correct that, but I told the team to celebrate the wins. Life moves too fast. You better enjoy the wins that you get.”
Kelly echoed those sentiments, saying, “A win is a win. In the SEC, it is definitely nothing to play with, every game is going to be tough, and so we just have to get ready.”
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