Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech live updates, score: Rebels run away with opening win

Published 8:39 am Saturday, September 1, 2018

Ole Miss’ first appearance this season will come in front of a national television audience today when the Rebels takes on Texas Tech in the Advocare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. The game will be carried on ESPN. Check back here for live updates.

With pass-heavy offenses and defenses that have a lot to prove, it’s a matchup of teams with similar makeups. Tech will break in a new quarterback — or two — while Ole Miss has a handful of new players stepping into featured roles in the defensive front seven, including linebackers Mohamed Sanogo and Kevontae’ Ruggs, as both offenses try to test defenses in space that finished near the bottom in many defensive categories a season ago.

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Ole Miss is relatively healthy heading into this one with cornerback Ken Webster (hamstring) and reserve defensive tackle Sincere David (knee) being the only real concerns. Head coach Matt Luke was optimistic during the week that both would be able to give the Rebels some snaps.

Today will be teams’ first meeting since the 2009 Cotton Bowl, when Ole Miss topped the Red Raiders 47-34. The Rebels lead the all-time series 3-2.

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FINAL: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 27

Ole Miss’ defense holds once again on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs for Tech. The Rebels will take over with less than 30 seconds left in the game and will pick up their first win of the season.

Logan pads Ole Miss’ lead with a 23-yard field goal. He’s 4-for-4 on field goals today. Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 27, 4:09 4Q

Ole Miss gets some help with a personal foul on a late hit on Ta’amu and finds the end zone on the next play with Ta’amu’s 34-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. Ole Miss 44, Texas Tech 27, 14:33 4Q

Texas Tech goes on fourth down near midfield to start the final quarter, but Bowman’s pass intended for Vasher is too far. Ole Miss takes over at its own 46.

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Ole Miss 37, Texas Tech 27

Ole Miss’ defense gets a stop and sets the offense up with good field position after an 11-yard punt, but DaMarkus Lodge fumbles fighting for extra yardage to give the ball right back to the Red Raiders near midfield. It’s the first turnover for either team.

Jaylon Jones leaves the field with a left knee/leg injury on a drive that ends on Ward’s 9-yard touchdown run. Tech covered 75 yards on just five plays. Ole Miss 37, Texas Tech 27, 5:30 3Q

Ole Miss responds with a three-play scoring drive capped by a 65-yard touchdown run from Phillips, who broke through the line and cut past one defender on his way to the end zone. Ole Miss 37, Texas Tech 20, 7:07 3Q

Texas Tech picks up the tempo offensively and drives to Ole Miss’ 22 but again stalls. The Red Raiders get points of it with Hatfield’s 41-yard field goal. Ole Miss 30, Texas Tech 20, 7:57 3Q

Tech starts the second half with an incompletion and consecutive runs, the latter of which Josiah Coatney stuffs for a loss on third down. Ole Miss takes over at its own 30 but can’t convert a third-and-1 on the ground.

HALFTIME: Ole Miss 30, Texas Tech 17. The Rebels roll up 317 yards of offense in the first half.

A 31-yard catch by Lodge helps get Ole Miss back in the red zone, but Ole Miss’ drive once again stalls with penalties. Logan tacks on his third field goal of the day, this one from 39 yards. Ole Miss 30, Texas Tech 17, 0:42 2Q

Tech, aided by a pass interference call, goes 75 yards in 11 plays to cut into Ole Miss’ lead. Bowman caps the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass on third down to Ja’Deion High. Ole Miss 27, Texas Tech 17, 1:57 2Q

A 44-yard completion to Braylon Sanders puts Ole Miss at Tech’s 10, but a negative rush and a sack ultimately forces the Rebels to settle for another Logan field goal. Ole Miss 27, Texas Tech 10, 6:41 2Q

Freshman linebacker Kevontae’ Ruggs has suffered a head injury and won’t return, per an Ole Miss spokesman.

Another three and out for Ole Miss’ defense. That’s three in Tech’s last four possessions. Ole Miss takes over at its own 35.

Jordan Ta’amu’s third-down pass near midfield falls incomplete, and Ole Miss punts for the first time today. Tech takes over at its own 17.

Tech drives into the red zone, but Bowman’s screen pass on third-and-11 doesn’t get the necessary yardage. But the Red Raiders cut into Ole Miss’ lead with a 25-yard field goal from Clayton Hatfield. Ole Miss 24, Texas Tech 10, 12:17 2Q

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Ole Miss 24, Texas Tech 7

Ole Miss goes on fourth-and-1 and cashes in on Scottie Phillips’ 39-yard touchdown run to pad its lead. 24-7 Ole Miss, 1:08 1Q

Carter gets his lower leg twisted up on a tackle and has to be helped off the field. True freshman Alan Bowman comes on at quarterback for Tech, which punts as Ole Miss takes over at its own 40.

Ta’amu’s third-down throw intended for DaMarkus Lodge is high, but Tech’s Desmon Smith goes high on the hit and is called for targeting. Smith is ejected, and Ole Miss’ drive stays alive. A completion to Lodge gets the Rebels to Tech’s 12, but his next third-down pass intended for Octavious Cooley falls incomplete in the end zone. Luke Logan connects on a 24-yard field goal to extend Ole Miss’ lead. 17-7 Ole Miss, 4:30 1Q

Carter comes out throwing on three straight downs on Tech’s second possession, but a short screen is the only one he completes. Tech punts, and Ole Miss takes over at its own 28-yard line.

Jaylon Jones returns the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to put Ole Miss back on top. 14-7 Ole Miss, 10:17 1Q.

As expected, McLane Carter gets the start at quarterback for Texas Tech. Carter completes a pair of third-down passes to keep the Red Raiders’ first possession alive before Da’Leon Ward caps a 90-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. 7-7, 10:32 1Q

Jordan Ta’amu completes his first two passes, the latter a 58-yard touchdown to DK Metcalf to give Ole Miss a lead 33 seconds in. 7-0 Ole Miss, 14:27 1Q

Texas Tech won the toss and deferred. Ole Miss will start on offense.