Carleigh Holt-The Grove Report
LIVE UPDATES: No. 14 Ole Miss vs. No. 7 Kentucky
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OXFORD, Miss., -- After starting the season 4-0, the No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels welcome their first SEC opponent of the season to Oxford, Miss., in Week 5: the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats.
Ole Miss is hoping to get off on the right foot against a team that believes it has a chance to be a serious contender in the SEC East Division. The Rebels, meanwhile, would love nothing more than to crash the party in the SEC West.
The Wildcats are led by 2023 NFL quarterback prospect Will Levis, and senior running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., the SEC's leading rusher from 2021. Rodriguez Jr. will be taking the field for the first time this fall on Saturday after being withheld from the start of the season as the result of an NCAA matter.
Pregame
As mentioned above, Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. is returning from a four-game NCAA suspension and will look to revive a struggling Wildcat run game that has produced only 326 rushing yards this fall.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is set on quarterback Jaxson Dart starting under center for the Rebels. Dart will get his first taste of SEC play against Kentucky.
The Ole Miss Captains for Week 5 are defensive back Ladarius Tennison, defensive end Tavius Robinson, and receiver Jonathan Mingo.
First Quarter
Q1 (13:09): Ole Miss is forced to punt after the first drive of the game.
Q1 (9:36): Kentucky punts on their first drive following an eight-yard loss on third down. Ole Miss will start with the ball on the 35-yard line.
Q1 (7:10): Ole Miss running back Zach Evans punches it in for a four-yard rushing touchdown.
Ole Miss 7, Kentucky 0
Q1 (2:50): Kentucky misses a 39-yard field goal attempt. Ole Miss starts its drive on the 21-yard line.
Ole Miss 7, Kentucky 0
Q1 (0:59): Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins rips off a 48-yard touchdown run.
Ole Miss 14, Kentucky 0
Q1 (0:01): Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. responds with his own 10-yard rushing touchdown. Kentucky misses the extra point.
End of First Quarter -- Ole Miss 14, Kentucky 6
Second Quarter
Q2 (13:31): Ole Miss is forced to punt but pins Kentucky at the one-yard line.
Q2 (10:28): Kentucky quarterback Will Levis is flagged for intentional grounding in the endzone, and Ole Miss gets a safety.
Ole Miss 16, Kentucky 6
Q2 (7:19): Ole Miss 53-yard field goal attempt is good.
Ole Miss 19, Kentucky 6
Q2 (1:24): Kentucky quarterback Will Levis completes a five-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tayvion Robinson. Kentucky misses the extra point attempt due to a low snap.
Ole Miss 19, Kentucky 12
Q2 (0:32): Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart throws his first interception of the day. Kentucky will take over at the 28-yard line.
End of First Half -- Ole Miss 19, Kentucky 12
Third Quarter
Q3 (12:32): Kentucky is forced to punt after its first drive of the second half. Ole Miss will begin its drive on the 16 yard-line.
Q3 (11:40): Ole Miss goes three-and-out on its first drive of the second half and is forced to punt. Kentucky will take over at the 49-yard line.
Q3 (6:22): Kentucky quarterback Will Levis completes a 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jordan Dingle.
Ole Miss 19, Kentucky 19
Q3 (2:45): Ole Miss' 26-yard field goal attempt is good.
Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19
End of Third Quarter -- Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19
Fourth Quarter
Q4 (14:55): Kentucky turns the ball over on downs. Ole Miss will take over at the 32 yard-line.
Q4 (10:14): Ole Miss responds with a turnover on downs in the red zone. Kentucky will take over at the five yard-line.
Q4 (2:55): Kentucky quarterback Will Levis fumbles the ball, Ole Miss safety AJ Finley recovers the loose ball, and the Rebels will start their drive on the 21-yard line.
Q4 (1:58): Ole Miss is forced to punt and Kentucky will start its drive at the 34-yard line.
Q4 (0:53): Ole Miss defensive end Jared Ivey sacks Kentucky quarterback Will Levis and forces the ball loose, Ole Miss recovers.
Final: Ole Miss 22, Kentucky 19
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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