325-pound JJ Pegues runs for 2 touchdowns as No. 12 Ole Miss posts a 27-3 win over South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Jaxson Dart loves talking about wins in Mississippi. He loves it even more when 325-pound nose tackle JJ Pegues helps make it happen.

Pegues had two short touchdown runs as the 12th-ranked Rebels rebounded from their first loss of the season to beat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday and give coach Lane Kiffin his 100th career win.

Dart was devastated a week ago when Mississippi (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) lost 20-17 at home to Kentucky. But seeing Pegues successfully playing offense near the goal line put a big smile on Dart's face.

“He’s so great,” said Dart, the Rebels’ third-year starting quarterback. “He’s the only defensive tackle in the country who can move like that. He could honestly play tight end for us. He is a special talent.”

The Rebels (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of two early chances from the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) to quickly build a lead and take control.

Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer — son of Frank Beamer, a coach known for his 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 too 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, quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford were in the formation. After sliding in, Ashford fumbled the ball and defensive tackle Walter Nolen recovered.

The rebels' subsequent advance ended with the first of Pegues' two 1-yard rushing scores. The fifth-grader took the direct snap and pushed through the line for the TD.

“Any time he has the ball in his hands on offense, good things are going to happen,” Dart said.

Shortly before half time Pegues was back at the start. This time he carefully stepped left to find a clear path to the end zone as Mississippi took a 24-3 lead. It was his fifth offensive goal of his career, four of which he scored on the ground this season. He also had a TD catch in 2022.

Kiffin said Pegues, who played a few tight ends during his time at Auburn before moving to the defensive line full-time, was a unique player and that they designed the play that scored him before halftime specifically for him.

“That says a lot about who he is,” Kiffin said.

Pegues and the defense took care of the rest as South Carolina went without a touchdown for the first time since a 34-12 four-field goal loss at Missouri last October.

Pegues also had two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage.

It was a pleasing result for Mississippi, which was beaten 20-17 at home by Kentucky last week. Another loss and the Rebels' chances of making the College Football Playoff would have been significantly hurt.

Kiffin, Ole Miss coach since 2020, reached the milestone of his career in his 13th season. He also had stops at Tennessee, USC and Florida Atlantic.

Beamer didn't expect this result and said it was “the biggest disappointment I've ever experienced as a head football coach, with the way we played.”

“We were very undisciplined, to say the least, and that starts with me,” Beamer said.

“We had a great week of training and I’m shocked at the way we played.”

The takeaway food

Mississippi: The Rebels weren't the sharpest version of themselves as Dart missed shots at times. He finished 14 of 27 for 285 yards and went without throwing a touchdown for the first time this season.

South Carolina: Things don't get any easier for the Gamecocks as they follow Ole Miss with trips to No. 1 Alabama and No. 19 Oklahoma before closing out October at home against No. 25 Texas A&M. You'll need to find an attack quickly to beat this route.

Rebel injuries

Mississippi played the Gamecocks without starting defensive end Princely Umanmielen. Shortly before halftime, leading receiver Tre Harris was helped off the field after a tackle and went to the medical tent for some time.

Harris did not return. Kiffin sidestepped a question about Harris' injury.

Next

Mississippi will face No. 13 LSU next Saturday night.

South Carolina faces top-ranked Alabama on Saturday.

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