By james art WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ole Miss football is also good against big-conference teams.
No. 5 Ole Miss defeated Wake Forest 40-6 Saturday night at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Ole Miss (3-0) took a comfortable 20-point lead into the first quarter and never allowed the Demon Deacons (1-2) to build any momentum to come back.
Here are some overreactions from the game:
Jaxson Dart is solidifying as a Heisman Trophy threat
Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart made a few mistakes Saturday, but made enough big plays to remain a strong contender for college football’s biggest prize.
He threw his first interception of the season with 11:44 left in the third quarter. Running down the left, he attempted a pass to Henry Parish. Dart didn’t lead his running back far enough, allowing linebacker Dylan Hazen to pick off the pass.
Dart’s other mistake came in the second quarter. He scrambled out of the pocket at the Wake Forest 4-yard line and headed toward the front right end zone pylon. He was stopped for a bit, but jumped up quickly and took his helmet off to the jaw with Quincy Bryant, the player who hit him. Attracted a 15-yard penalty.
With his helmet, Darth was amazing. He threw for 377 yards on 26-for-34 passing. He threw for two touchdowns and also rushed for 36 yards and a score.
Ole Miss might have the best defense in the country
Three running backs had a chance to score an Ole Miss touchdown. The Demon Deacons, by far the best contender of the three, came up empty.
Ole Miss gave up 311 total yards and forced two fourth down stops. Entering the game, Wake Forest was averaging 167 yards per game. The Demon Deacons collected 46 rushing yards against Ole Miss.
The Rebels’ defense is already ranked among the nation’s best entering Week 3. Another shutout performance, this time against an ACC team, only reinforces the notion that Ole Miss’ defense is elite.
Tre Harris should be in the mix for the Biletnikoff Trophy
The Rebels’ star wide receiver just keeps producing.
Tre Harris, who entered the week with Pro Football Focus’ highest grade among all players, showed why analysts say he’s great. Harris caught 11 passes for 127 yards.
He was a reliable Dart option and drew 13 targets. Extrapolate Harris’ production over a full season and he could be in the mix for the Biletnikoff Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best wide receiver.
REBELS ROLL Ole Miss football vs. Wake Forest: Final score, Week 3 game highlights
Good luck stopping the Rebels in short yardage situations
Ole Miss’ jumbo package is no gimmick. It’s a weapon.
Senior quarterback JJ Pegas got more work running the football against Wake Forest. Again, he made the most of it. Pegues, a 325-pounder with incredible agility, carried the ball twice for four yards.
He turned 4th-and-1 at the Wake Forest 26-yard line in the first quarter and picked up two yards on an identical down and distance on the second play of the second quarter.
Pegues already has four carries this season, all in short-yardage situations. He succeeded in every attempt and even scored a touchdown.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him at X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on the Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss-Wake Forest: Rebels defense nation’s best, more overreactions