Ole Miss football gets back on track with easy win over UL-Monroe

All Ole Miss football needed was to step outside of SEC play to get back on track. The Rebels did just that in Week 6 against UL-Monroe.

The Rebels were running all day Saturday to the tune of a 70-21 victory over UL Monroe.

Jordan Ta’amu competed 21 of 24 passes for 374 yards with three touchdowns, helping Ole Miss rebound from a 45-16 loss to LSU last week.

Ta’amu, who has struggled in recent weeks, looked more like the quarterback Ole Miss fans watched last year light up the scoreboard. Along with his 374 yards in the air, the senior also ran for two touchdowns and 63 yards on just six carries.

This was the four time on the year he has thrown at least two touchdowns and the fourth game of passing for at least 336 yards. Ole Miss is 4-0 when Ta’amu throws for over 300 yards this year after going 2-1 when he accomplished the feat in 2017.

Matt Corral, a highly-regarded freshman quarterback from California, saw his most extensive action of the year. After completing 1-of-2 for 31 yards entering, the 6-foot-1 signal-caller was 10-for-10 for 143 yards with two touchdowns, showing his own dual-threat abilities with six carries for 78 yards and a score – which included a 61-yard burst.

As a team, Ole Miss passed for 517 yards and threw five touchdowns, while carrying the ball 38 times for 309 yards and five more scores to finish with 826 yards of total offense. Sure, UL Monroe isn’t SEC-caliber, but after scoring just 16 points vs. LSU and seven against Alabama, the Rebels needed this.

DaMarkus Lodge, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf all went over 100 yards in the game and each scored a touchdown, with Lodge leading the way with nine catches for 179 yards. Brown also hauled in nine passes and Metcalf had 115 yards on just four receptions.

The 826-yard performance by the offense marked a school-record, as it was the first time Ole Miss went over the 800-yard mark. The previous record was 751, set in 2013 vs. Troy.

Caleb Evans had a decent game for UL Monroe, completing 17-of-28 for 206 yards. He also had 13 carries for 37 yards,, with Derrick Gore adding 52 yards and a touchdown.