ATLANTA, GA – Ole Miss was without head coach Lane Kiffin on Monday night against the Cardinals, but it didn’t affect the Rebels as they cruised to a 43-24 win over the Cardinals. Quarterback Matt Corral led the attack for the Reb’s with 381-yards passing on 22 of 32 completions and a touchdown.
Louisville won the toss deferred to the second half. Ole Miss would receive the opening kickoff, and return man Otis Reece would slip at the 10-yard line. Add a holding penalty to the return, and the Rebels were pinned at their own five-yard line as they got their 2021 season underway.
That wouldn’t deter Corral and the Ole Miss offense. Corral quickly got the pace rolling with a strike to Dontario Drummond for 25 yards. This would spark an 11-play 95-yard drive that was capped off with a rush up the gut from Jerrion Ealy on 1st and goal at the one.
The drive ate 3:05 off the clock and made it 6-0 Rebels, following a missed PAT. Then it was the Cards turn to answer. Hassan Hall fielded the kickoff and returned it 14-yards upfield before getting lit up by Tylan Wright, who was on the ground momentarily from the impact of the hit.
After Wright walked to the Ole Miss sideline, Malik Cunningham got to work for the Cards. He would first impact the game on Louisville’s 3rd offense play of the game, facing a 3rd and 11. The quarterback used his legs to pick up just enough for the first down. He would push the offense to the Ole Miss 39 yard line, with one completion and four carries for 23 yards before the Cards turned the ball over on downs.
It would be Louisville’s defense stiffening up on the ensuing possession, forcing a quick three-and-out from the Rebels. The Cardinals’ offense would then follow suit with a three-and-out of their own.
On the third play of the Ole Miss next possession, Corral would again connect with Drummond. This time it was for 34-yards and pushed the Rebels into Cards territory. Caden Costa would cap the drive with a 47-yard field goal to make it 9-0 Ole Miss with 2:25 left in the 1st quarter.
Ole Miss’ defense would take a hit two plays into the ensuing drive, as outside linebacker Mark Robinson was sent to the showers early after getting called for targeting. The Cards drive would bleed into the 2nd quarter before stalling out at their 40-yard line.
The Rebels were once again pinned deep, starting at their own seven-yard line. Corral would again maneuver a prolific drive, all the while taking a blow to the helmet by Louisville’s Monty Montgomery on a 4th and 2. Montgomery would be ejected for targeting, and Corral would cap the drive three plays later with a six-yard touchdown run.
On the kickoff return, things got worse for the Cards. A call from the replay booth would pause play for a potential targeting call again. This one was on defensive end Tabarius Peterson, leading to his ejection. A holding call would follow to make it 1st and 15 at their own seven-yard line.
2nd Half Start
Louisville would get the ball to start the second half, trailing 26-0, needing a spark to get back in this one. That would come on the kickoff return, as Hassan Hall took it up the sideline 59 yards to set up a 1st and ten at the Ole Miss 41. After a quick 17-yard 1st down pass from Cunningham to Marshon Ford, the Cards drive fizzled out. They would be forced to settle for a 38-yard field goal from James Turner.
Ole Miss answered with a 38-yarder on the other side from Costa to make it 29-3 with 8:22 left in the 3rd quarter. The Cardinals would need to respond to keep any hope of a comeback.
Cunningham did just that, leading a 13-play 70-yard touchdown drive to draw the Cards within 19 as the 3rd quarter neared an end.
That gap would extend quickly on the Rebels’ ensuing possession as Snoop Conner punched in an 11-yard touchdown run. This capped a seven-play 75-yard drive and made it 36-10 with 14:11 left in the game.
The Cards would continue the fight, with Cunnigham scoring two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. However, it was a pound-for-pound quarter, with both teams answering each other score for score. Louisville’s final score would make it 43-24, bringing a close to a brutal week one for the ACC.
