Rebels dominate Vols with 42-17 win

OXFORD, Miss. — Versatile Ole Miss senior Dexter McCluster dominated the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday afternoon, and the Rebels left Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium with a big 42-17 win.

McCluster, a pint-sized playmaker who lines up at tailback, wide receiver and quarterback, set several Ole Miss and UT records on a sunny afternoon in Northern Mississippi. He collected 282 yards on 24 rushes and added 42 yards on four receptions, giving him 324 total yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.

Ole Miss started the game’s first possession at its own 40-yard line after Chad Cunningham’s opening kickoff leaked out of bounds, and the Rebels marched quickly down the field. McCluster took a delayed hand-off 15 untouched yards to the end zone, giving the Rebels a 7-0 advantage with 13:29 left in the opening quarter.

UT’s first possession didn’t share similar success, going 3 yards in three plays and ending in a punt that started Ole Miss’s second drive at its own 42.

The Vols held on that possession, though, and drove three quick plays to tie the score on Jonathan Crompton’s 16-yard strike to wide open senior tight end Jeff Cottam — a native of the nearby Memphis area.

Ole Miss came right back, though. McCluster lined up as a shotgun quarterback on the next drive and raced 23 yards around left end to give the Rebels a 14-7 lead with 1:20 left in the first quarter.

The Vols again answered moments later, re-tying the game on Crompton’s 25-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Denarius Moore with 10:43 left in the second quarter.

McCluster struck again moments later, though, and again as a shotgun quarterback. He sprinted around left end for this third score, a 32-yarder that gave Ole Miss a 21-14 lead with 6:59 left in the first half.

The Rebels advanced to UT’s 11 late in the second quarter, but a dropped would-be touchdown pass and missed 28-yard field goal kept the halftime score at 21-14.

UT drove quickly down the field to start the third quarter, and Daniel Lincoln’s 28-yard field goal got the Vols within 21-17.

The Vols spoiled a great chance moments later. Senior defensive tackle Wes Brown intercepted Jevan Snead near midfield, but UT’s offense turned the ball back over on down four plays later. Brandon Bolden capped Ole Miss’s subsequent possession with a 1-yard touchdown run off right tackle, giving the Rebels a 28-17 lead with 1:16 left in the third quarter.

Ole Miss stopped the Vols early in the fourth quarter, and McCluster broke open the game with a dazzling 71-yard run with 13:59 left. That run put him over 300 total yards from scrimmage on the day and smashed the school’s single game rushing record.

The Vols drove deep into Ole Miss territory on their next possession, but a completed pass for -11 yards set up a blocked 45-yard field goal that kept the Rebels’ lead at three scores. It was the third block UT surrendered this season — all from beyond 40 yards, and all after Lincoln started battling a quadriceps injury.

UT junior strongside linebacker LaMarcus Thompson was carted off the field on a stretcher after falling to the turf with 2:40 left. Thompson’s specific injury and status weren’t immediately available following the game, but he gave the crowd a thumbs-up after being loaded on the stretcher. Fans from both teams comprising the fourth-largest crowd in Vaught-Hemmingway history stood and applauded Thompson during his exit.

Bolden added a 4-yard touchdown one play after Thompson’s injury, giving the Rebels a 42-17 lead with 2:31 left.

Read Sunday’s Times Free Press for more UT coverage.