OXFORD – Last Saturday in Athens, Georgia, was an afternoon Ole Miss defenders aren’t likely to look back on fondly.
The Rebels took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter against Georgia, winner of 34 of its last 35 games at Sanford Stadium. Ole Miss did not force a single punt in the game, with the Bulldogs scoring on every single drive minus the final kneel-downs. Georgia totaled 510 yards of offense and picked up 34 first downs in a 43-35 win, the most first downs accrued by a Rebels opponent this season.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs ran for 221 yards, their second-highest total in an SEC game this year.
“Part of it was really good execution by Georgia,” Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said. “But part of it was us not even giving ourselves a chance by not executing a call right.”
The Rebels had a season-worst 60.7 defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and a season-low 52.8 grade in coverage. Georgia receivers had 120 yards after the catch, per PFF, and Stockton completed 8 of 10 pass attempts of 10 yards or more – including 3 of 5 of 20 yards or more. Ole Miss had eight missed tackles against Georgia and have 64 missed tackles through seven games overall.
“We just have to stay focused, communicate together and everything will be all right,” junior linebacker Suntarine Perkins said.
No. 8 Ole Miss plays at No. 13 Oklahoma Saturday at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
As was the case following a subpar defensive effort against Arkansas earlier this season, Ole Miss’ (6-1, 3-1 SEC) defenders had a meeting Sunday night to talk things over. The Rebels surrendered 526 yards in their 41-35 win over the Razorbacks and proceeded to give up 536 yards total in their next two games against Tulane and LSU.
“We definitely had a meeting this Sunday,” Perkins said. “Everybody … (came) in, just studying and get ready to rock and roll for this week.”
Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1) is averaging 28.7 points per game and is tied for 73rd nationally with 379 total yards of offense per game. Quarterback John Mateer was one of the biggest additions in the transfer portal and has thrown for 1,567 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions and has another 209 yards and five touchdowns rushing. Mateer missed one game due to a hand injury but has started each of the Sooners’ last two games.
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