By E. Marcel Pourtout, Editor
Despite three first half turnovers, Ole Miss scored 28 fourth-quarter points to emerge from its season-opener with a 35-13 win over Boise State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Thursday.
After throwing three first-half interceptions, Bo Wallace recovered with a strong second-half effort and finished the contest with a game-high 387 yards passing and four touchdowns in the air.
Boise State had the first opportunity to score points in the contest, having the ball on the Ole Miss three-yard line. However, quarterback Grant Hedrick’s pass into the end zone was intercepted by Senquez Golson.
Ole Miss took advantage of the turnover, subsequently scoring on its next drive got on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Cody Core, making the score 7-0 with 57 seconds left in the first quarter. The drive went 80 yards on nine plays and 3:34.
Core had a game and career-high 110 yards receiving in his first career start.
Boise State got on the board with a 25-yd field goal by Dan Goodale with 7:58 left in the first half.
Both teams concluded the first half in a sloppy fashion with a combined six interceptions and 14 penalties. The Broncos outgained the Rebels 203-168 in total yardage.
Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter with the lone points coming on a 43-yard field goal by Goodale.
A 12-yard touchdown pass from Wallace to Laquon Treadwell increased Ole Miss’ lead to 14-6 with 12:26 left in the game. Treadwell finished the contest with his first career 100-yard receiving game with 105 yards on seven catches..
The Rebels continued the offensive pressure, scoring touchdowns on their next two possessions on a 31-yard catch from Quincy Adeboyejo and a 76-yard catch by Core, making the score 28-6 in favor of the Rebels.
Boise State’s final points of the contest were scored with 4:26 left in the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Hedrick to Jay Ajayi, making the score 28-13. Hedrick finished with a team-high 264 yards passing and a Chick-fil-A record 36 completions with four interceptions. Ajayi’s 93 yards receiving were a team-high.
The final touchdown of the contest came on a 19-yard run by Ole Miss’ Mark Dodson.
Postgame notes:
- By combining for seven interceptions, Boise State and Ole Miss now hold the record for the most interceptions in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The previous high was four in the 2012 Kickoff Game between NC State and Tennessee.
- Both teams combined for a Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game record 23 penalties.
- The Rebels’ Will Gleeson set the record for the longest punt with a 70-yard effort in the second quarter.
The Sports Inquirer 
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