Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) rushes for yards in the course of the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Jaxson Dart threw 4 landing passes and Ulysses Bentley IV ran for a pair of scores as No. 14 Mississippi overwhelmed Duke in a 52-20 Gator Bowl romp Thursday night time in Jacksonville, Fla.
Coach Lane Kiffin, who expressed his displeasure relating to the Faculty Soccer Playoff choices, had his workforce out to show a degree. The Rebels have been clicking for a lot of the sport, and so they held Duke’s revamped offense in test.
Dart, who’s anticipated to declare for the NFL draft, made closing impression as a university participant by finishing 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards, together with a 69-yarder to Jordan Watkins for a landing with 1:27 left.
Watkins caught two landing passes and Dae’Quan Wright and Antwane Wells Jr. every had one for Ole Miss (10-3), which received 5 of its final six video games. Jordan Watkins was the workforce’s prime receiver with seven receptions for 180 yards.
Duke (9-4), taking part in beneath first-year coach Manny Diaz and showing within the Gator Bowl for the primary time, turned to quarterback Henry Belin IV because the starter. Maalik Murphy had departed by way of the switch portal and Grayson Loftis, who was the quarterback for Duke’s 2023 bowl victory, additionally exited for the switch portal.
Belin was 25 of 44 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Sahmir Hagans posted the sport’s final factors on a 99-yard kickoff return.
The Blue Devils have been additionally with out operating again Star Thomas, who rushed for 871 yards in the course of the common season earlier than coming into the switch portal.
Duke’s Terry Moore snatched his fourth interception of the season, making a 59-yard return after selecting off kicker Caden Davis’ go on a failed pretend to finish the sport’s opening possession.
However Ole Miss stopped Duke on fourth down on the opposite facet of the sphere. The Rebels wanted simply 4 performs to go 68 yards for the sport’s first factors on Dart’s 32-yard go play to Wells.
Duke had a complete of 36 yards on 11 first-quarter performs. However trailing 17-0, the Blue Devils marched 75 yards on eight performs to attain on Belin’s 16-yard go to Javon Harvey.
The Rebels scored with 1:52 left within the half on Dart’s 21-yard go to Wright for a 24-7 halftime lead.
The second-half scoring started on Isaiah Hamilton’s 50-yard interception return for a landing as Ole Miss led 31-7.
–Subject Degree Media
