Dart completes 1st 24 passes to set SEC record, No. 6 Ole Miss beats Middle Tennessee 52-3

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Jaxson Dart completed his first 24 passes to set Southeastern Conference and school records, finishing 25 of 27 for 377 yards in No. 6 Mississippi’s 52-3 victory over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday.

The streak ended when Dart and Tre Harris couldn’t connect on a crossing pattern with 9:56 reaming. Dart, who completed 30 passes in a row over two games, broke the SEC record of 23 straight completions to start a game set by Tennessee’s Tee Martin against South Carolina in 1998. The previous Ole Miss record of 19 straight completions was set by Matt Corral against Vanderbilt in 2020.

Dart was hit hard from the blind side in the second quarter, but responded with throws of 18 and 25 yards before a 3-yard touchdown run. He threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Antwane Wells Jr. in the fourth quarter.

“I’m proud of Jaxson’s leadership,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said.

Coming off an opening 76-0 victory over Furman, the Rebels dominated another lower-level opponent. They have not allowed a touchdown.

Henry Parrish Jr. had career highs with 165 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 11.8 yards per carry.

Ole Miss had 243 rushing yards last week, but much of it came in garbage time, and Kiffin wanted greater efficiency.

“We have several good running backs,” Kiffin said. “Parrish practiced well, so he got the start today and played well.”

Parrish had just 40 yards against Furman. He surpassed that halfway through the first quarter Saturday with 92 yards and two 11-yard touchdown runs as the Rebels took a quick 17-0 lead.

Zeke Rankin hit a 32-yard field goal for Middle Tennessee (1-1) with 15 seconds left in the first half. Ole Miss led 31-3 at the break.

Kiffin thinks his team can be cleaner.

“A lot of people are doing things right, but there are still too many penalties,” he said.

The Rebels were flagged eight times for 78 yards.

Ole Miss has allowed just 54 rushing yards this season.

THE TAKEAWAY

Walter Nolen, ranked No. 3 in the Transfer Portal and the No. 1 defensive lineman, left the game with an apparent injury with 8:09 left in the third quarter.

The Blue Raiders’ best drive of the day had just ended with an end zone interception by defensive back John Saunders, and Nolen did not get up after the play.

Training staff assisted him from the field, and Nolen appeared to favor his left foot or ankle as he made his way to the sideline and the injury tent.

He was seen walking on the sideline later in the game.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Ole Miss will likely move up at least one spot after No. 5 Notre Dame’s 16-14 home loss to Northern Illinois.

Middle Tennessee: Hosts Western Kentucky on Saturday.

Mississippi: At Wake Forest on Saturday.

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