Ole Miss Pulls Away From Auburn After Third-Quarter Turning Point

Ole Miss beat Auburn 45-15 after a third-quarter sequence shifted the game, with the Rebels scoring 28 unanswered points. Auburn had cut the deficit to 17-15 before Ole Miss answered and pulled away.

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding said his team stayed composed and focused on its assignments after Auburn narrowed the score. He pointed to the Rebels’ effort, toughness and offensive efficiency, while acknowledging the performance was not perfect. Golding said the team had emphasized focusing on what it could control.

Running back Shekai Mills-Knight rushed for a career-high 71 yards, according to the team’s postgame notes. Golding credited Mills-Knight’s development beyond carrying the ball, including his work in pass protection and understanding route concepts. Mills-Knight said his time on the scout team helped prepare him for a larger role and that he had stayed patient while learning from fellow running back Kewan Lacy.

Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss said he felt he played better than in recent games and was focused on enjoying the moment rather than pressing. Golding said he encouraged quarterback Deuce Knight after the game, telling him the team’s 45 points were encouraging even though Knight did not score. Ole Miss linebacker Keaton Thomas said the defense had prepared for Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown’s running ability.

Golding said the Rebels had improved their third-quarter execution over the previous two weeks, but cautioned that they could not afford a slow start against Georgia, their next opponent. Chambliss described the matchup as a challenge and said Ole Miss would need to limit mistakes.

Auburn coach Alex Golesh said he was disappointed with his team’s finish, particularly after Ole Miss’ quarterback converted a third-and-11 run and the Rebels scored three plays later. Golesh said Auburn then gave up 28 consecutive points and did not execute consistently. He also called pre-snap penalties, including a penalty involving the tackle, inexcusable.

Brown said Auburn needed to execute better on first and second downs to avoid difficult third downs. Offensive lineman Stanton Ramil said penalties and inconsistency in the run game had put the offense in difficult situations. Defensive lineman Dallas Walker said missed details in the second half contributed to Ole Miss’ success on the ground. Brown said Auburn’s next task was to prepare for Arkansas.

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