COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — JJ Pegues, a 325-pound nose tackle, ran for two short touchdowns as No.
12 Mississippi bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat South Carolina 27-3 on Saturday and give coach Lane Kiffin his 100th career victory. The Rebels (5-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) took advantage of a pair of early gambles by the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) to build a quick lead and take control. Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer — son of Frank Beamer, a coach known for special teams prowess at Virginia Tech — faked a punt on fourth-and-1 at his own 36 and Ole Miss linebacker Chris Paul Jr.
stuffed Maurice Brown II short. Five plays later, Henry Parrish Jr. ran for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Rebels a 7-0 lead.
On South Carolina's next series, it lined up with quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Robby Ashford in the formation. After Ashford slid in, he fumbled the ball and defensive tackle Walter Nolen recovered. The Rebels' subsequent drive ended with the first of Pegues' two 1-yard rushing scores .
The fifth-year senior took the direct snap and pushed through the line for the TD. Right before halftime, Pegues was at it again. This time, he gingerly stepped left to find an open lane into the end zone as Mississippi went up 24-3.
It was his fifth career offensive score, four of those coming on the ground this season. He also had a TD catch in 2022. Pegues and the defense took care of the rest as South Carolina was held without a touchdown for the first time since losin.
