Florida fights, but ultimately falls to No. 7 Ole Miss 34-24

It was not a matchup between two highly ranked squads. They aren’t arch-rivals. And, the teams appeared to be going in the opposite direction. But Saturday’y game between the unranked Florida Gators and No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Miss., had plenty of intrigue. And it ended up being a battle to the surprise of many.

Florida led 24-20 at the half and was very much in the game until the final few minutes. But again, the Gators—as they have often done in this dreadful season—came up short.

Final score: Ole Miss 34, Florida 24.

Lane Kiffin, the Ole Miss coach, just happens to be the top target of the Florida Gators, who fired Billy Napier in October. His Rebels improved to 10-1 and are in a strong spot to make the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, the Gators dropped to 3-7.

Behind QB Trinidad Chambliss (301 yards passing) and running back Kewan Lacy (224 yards), the Rebels gained 538 yards to only 326 for Florida. But the Gators hung around thanks to some key defensive stops and a strong first half on offense. But in the final 30 minutes, the offense tanked and Ole Miss finished UF off down the stretch.

Gators quarterback DJ Lagway passed for 218 yards and a touchdown, but threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter with 9:11 left. A tired UF defense fought to keep it close but the Gators had only 52 yards in the fourth quarter and 7 total yards on their final two drives.

Below, Gators Online provided updates from the game. Meanwhile, we encourage you to join the discussion at Swamp Talk, our message board community.

FOURTH QUARTER

*After the Gators turned the ball over on downs, Ole Miss scored again on a 4-yard Kewan Lacy TD run. Lacy now has 224 rushing yards and three scores. SCORE: Ole Miss 34, Florida 24 (1:43)

*The Gators just came up with a huge fourth-down stop at the UF 3. Gators ball with 2:40 left.

*A solid UF drive just ended with a DJ Lagway interception at the Ole Miss 32.

*A Kewan Lacy 1-yard touchdown run caps a six-play, 86-yard drive and Ole Miss is back in front. Ole Miss now has 473 yards. SCORE: Ole Miss 27, Florida 24 (14:57)

THIRD QUARTER

*Nothing doing for UF and after a three-and-out the Gators had to punt again. Ole Miss starts at the OM 14 with 1:45 left.

*The Gators just forced the first Ole Miss punt of the night after back-to-back sacks. Gators ball with 2:43 left in the quarter at the UF 22.

*From the UF 2, the Gators gained 46 yards but ultimately punted. Ole Miss ball at the Rebels 16 with 5:15 left in the quarter.

*Ole Miss began the half with a 15-play, 74-yard drive that ended with an incomplete pass at the UF 1 on fourth down. Gators take over with 7:50 left in the third quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

*UF’s Trey Smack just attempted and made a 32-yard field goal to cap a 55-yard drive. SCORE: Florida 24, Ole Miss 20 (0:03)

*Ole Miss has scored again with a 23-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro. Thirteen-play, 69-yard drive. SCORE: Florida 21, Ole Miss 20 (1:52)

*UF has answered the Ole Miss score with a 57-yard strike from DJ Lagway to J. Michael Sturdivant. The Gators are back in front. SCORE: Florida 21, Ole Miss 17 (6:54)

*The Gators appeared to stop Ole Miss on third down but an offsides by UF EDGE Tyreak Sapp gave the Rebels another play. And, they scored on it with a 43-yard TD connection from Tindidad Chambliss to De’Zhaun Stribling. Ten-play, 75-yard drive. SCORE: Ole Miss 17, Florida 14 (9:39)

*UF quickly turns the turnover into points. Running back Jadan Baugh has put the Gators in front with a 2-yard touchdown run. Two-play, 5-yard drive. SCORE: Florida 14, Ole Miss 10 (14:56)

FIRST QUARTER

*The Gators have intercepted Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss and returned it to the Rebels 5 with 1:03 left in the first quarter. UF freshman EDGE Jayden Woods made the pick.

*The Gators have shown some life with a nice seven-play, 75-yard drive. The points came on a 5-yard DJ Lagway run. Lagway had a great series, with a key 12-yard run and a 47-yard completion to TJ Abrams. SCORE: Ole Miss 10, Florida 7 (1:13)

*Ole Miss has added to its lead on a 27-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro. UF linebacker Myles Graham had a big sack on 3rd-and-5. Seven-play, 62-yard drive. SCORE: Ole Miss 10, Florida 0 (3:58)

*UF has now started the game with a second straight three-and-out.

*A 12-play, 80-yard drive has Ole Miss one the board. The Rebels scored on a 3-yard Kewan Lacy touchdown run. QB Trinidad Chambliss was 6-of-6 for 65 yards on the drive. SCORE: Ole Miss 7, Florida 0 (9:09)

*The Gators received the opening kickoff and quickly went three and out. DJ Lagway was 0-of-2 passing on the drive, missing two open targets.

How to watch the Florida Gators vs. Ole Miss Rebels

Date: Sat. Nov. 15
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038), Oxford, Miss.
TV: ESPN
Stream: (Cox): 7 / 1007 [HD], (DirecTV): 8 [HD]
Radio: SiriusXM Channel: 145 [Gator Network]

On The Call — ESPN

Play-by-Play: Bob Wischusen
Analyst: Louis Riddick
Reporter: Kris Budden

On The Call — Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD

Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley
Analyst: Shane Matthews
Reporter: Tate Casey