South-Carolina
Ole Miss football’s win at South Carolina started with Jaxson Dart, frustrated Rebels around a firepit
COLUMBIA, S.C − The ground was laid for Ole Miss football’s decisive win against South Carolina early last Sunday morning.
Specifically, at 2 a.m. around a firepit.
The No. 12 Rebels beat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. The convincing victory came on the heels of a loss to Kentucky that had Ole Miss players tossing and turning. So it was, late after the loss to Kentucky, that some Rebels met up to talk about how they wouldn’t let it happen against the Gamecocks. The players found a firepit with plenty of room.
“We couldn’t sleep,” quarterback Jaxson Dart said. “We just had tough conversations. Us being able to bounce back and have a win like this, and obviously our defense showing out in a big way was huge.”
The Ole Miss defense excelled. The Rebels (4-1, 1-1 SEC) forced two turnovers and stopped the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2 SEC) three times on fourth down. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was held to 162 passing yards. Combined with Ole Miss’ excellent red zone offense (four touchdowns on four trips), it translated into Ole Miss’ most important win of the season.
Unlike some Ole Miss wins this season, there wasn’t one star. No Rebel had 100 yards rushing or receiving. It was a team effort to come up with big plays. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen stood out, especially because defensive end Princely Umanmielen’s didn’t play. Nolen notched two sacks and recovered a Robby Ashford fumble. Rebels’ defensive tackle JJ Pegues scored a touchdown on both his rushing attempts from the goal line.
“I thought this was a really hard week,” coach Lane Kiffin said. “I felt probably the worst feeling after a loss in the most amount of days since we’ve been here … it was like we just handed (the Kentucky game) away in so many ways. So not what we thought we were going to play like. Our guys battled this week.”
Dart said this win was important, and he felt an urgency in practices leading up to it. He knows Ole Miss is talented, but another loss like last week would’ve sent the Rebels’ lofty aspirations up in flames. That’s why Dart and other players met around the fire, and team leaders has one-on-one meetings.
“This was a really good win for our team,” Dart said. “I can’t even explain how much it hurt last week. Being able to go through that, and then stack this win, we get some good momentum.”
Last week, Ole Miss took a punch. On Saturday, Ole Miss’ leaders showed the team can get off the mat.
“I think it showed what our true identity is,” Dart said. “We had every opportunity to divide and turn away inside the locker room and point fingers at this, that and the other. The truth is that we didn’t.”
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
As South Carolina prepares for its Citrus Bowl matchup against Illinois, the message from players is clear: this team isn’t just happy to be in Orlando.
The No. 15 Gamecocks (9-3) have their sights set on a historic tenth win, which would mark only the eighth time in program history the team has reached double-digit victories. Despite the disappointment of missing the expanded College Football Playoff, players emphasized their focus has shifted entirely to ending the season on a high note against the Fighting Illini (9-3).
“It’s just another chance to play with my teammates. All of them are like my brothers, even the coaching staff,” said defensive lineman Boogie Huntley, who confirmed earlier this week that he will play in the bowl game. “It’s just another opportunity to go out and have fun, show the nation and the world who South Carolina is.”
The Gamecocks enter the December 31 matchup at Camping World Stadium riding high after their victory over rival Clemson, a game that produced several players’ favorite moments of the season. Linebacker Debo Williams cited quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ game-winning touchdown run against the Tigers as his top memory, while Demetrius Knight Jr. still possesses the ball from his crucial interception to seal the rivalry win.
Sellers, whose heroics in the Clemson game have made him something of a campus celebrity, has maintained his focus despite the increased attention. “I trust him,” Sellers said of his relationship with coach Mike Shula, who was officially confirmed as the team’s new offensive coordinator earlier this week. “He’s coached a lot of guys and has a history with a lot of guys in the NFL. It’s about him trusting me and us continuing to have a great relationship from here on out.”
The defense, which has been a strength all season, appears motivated to finish strong. Safety Nick Emmanwori emphasized the team’s desire to approach this game differently than other teams who missed the playoff. “We want to come with a different mental approach,” Emmanwori said, noting the team is using the playoff snub as motivation.
For seniors like Tonka Hemingway, who recently won the Ray Tanner award, the bowl game represents one final opportunity to represent the school. “I’m really excited to put on the Garnet and black one more time and just leave it all out there,” Hemingway said.
South Carolina enters the game as an 9.5-point favorite against an Illinois team led by former Ole Miss quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on ABC, as the Gamecocks seek to close out what has already been a memorable season with one more victory.
ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Highway Patrol says one person has died in an Orangeburg County crash from Saturday night.
Sgt. Tyler Tidwell says this accident happened at approximately 7:05 p.m. on Redmond Mill Road near Magenta Drive. This is about four miles east of the Town of North.
Tidwell says a Hyundai sedan was traveling west on Redmond Mill Road when they went off to the road to the left and struck a tree. They were the only person in the car and the only vehicle involved.
The Orangeburg County Coroner’s Office has not yet identified the victim.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
South Carolina continues to mine the transfer portal to fill needs and the Gamecocks have sent out another known offer to an interior defensive lineman.
Bowling Green transfer portal DL Davonte Miles posted on Twitter/X Saturday that the Gamecocks have offered the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder.
In addition to South Carolina, Miles is hearing from Mississippi State, Memphis, Northwestern, and UConn.
South Carolina Transfer Portal Resources:
Miles is expected to play in Bowling Green’s bowl game on Dec. 26 and will likely make a decision after that.
Listed as a redshirt sophomore, Miles should have two years of eligibility left.
Miles collected 10 tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and two quarterback hurries this season.
He is originally from River Rouge, Mich.
South Carolina is expected to bring in multiple interior defensive linemen from the portal as the Gamecocks will have to replace Tonka Hemingway, Boogie Huntley, Deandre Jules, and likely T.J. Sanders from this year’s talented group.
Carolina already has one portal commitment at the position in Texas A&M transfer and former five-star Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.
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