Ole Miss knocks off No. 4 Florida

Click here to read more.

Hamilton leads Vanderbilt to 4-0 with 23-17 win

By CHRIS TALBOTT
The Associated Press

OXFORD – Ryan Hamilton tied a school record with three interceptions, scored a touchdown on an interception return and saved a score with a goal-line tackle to help Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 23-17 on Saturday.

The Commodores intercepted four of Jevan Snead’s passes to put themselves in position to be ranked for the first time since 1984 by surviving an early and odd Rebels scoring flurry. Vanderbilt was one spot out of the Top 25 entering the week and is 4-0 for just the fourth time since World War II.

But the Commodores (2-0 Southeastern Conference) needed a pair of goal-line stands and a final interception as time expired to win.

The Rebels (2-2, 0-1) appeared as if they might run away early after forcing a fumble deep in Vanderbilt territory with a 10-0 lead. But Hamilton stepped in front of Snead’s pass and returned it 79 yards for a score.

His second interception of Snead and 23-yard return helped set up a field goal that rallied Vanderbilt to a 17-17 halftime tie. The Commodores could only manage two more Bryant Hahnfeldt field goals in the second half, but Hamilton and the defense made it stand up.

Hamilton made a crucial tackle on Ole Miss’ first series of the second half, when he caught running back Cordera Eason from behind on fourth-and-inches at the goal line. Hamilton later recovered a fumble on a punt return to negate another Ole Miss drive and finished the game off with a pick on Snead’s pass around the Vanderbilt 10.

Hamilton also recovered a fumble, but wasn’t the only playmaker on the Commodores defense. Reshard Langford killed another drive with a bobbling interception of Snead at midfield, then Chris Marve finished off another Rebels’ goal-line chance for a rally when he forced Dexter McCluster to fumble into the end zone. D.J. Moore fell on the loose ball with 2:40 left.

If ranked Sunday, the Commodores will be the sixth SEC team in the poll and the eighth to be ranked at some point this season. Vanderbilt was ranked as high as 19th in 1984 after starting 4-0.

Ole Miss easily defeats Samford

The Associated Press
OXFORD — Marshay Green scored on a 77-yard punt return and Mississippi used 31 unanswered points to easily defeat Samford 34-10 on Saturday night.

The Rebels (2-1) struggled early with the Bulldogs of the Championship Subdivision, who led 7-6 until the final four minutes of the first half. Then Ole Miss had consecutive touchdown drives of 53, 91 and 63 yards late in the second quarter and early in the third period.

Ole Miss led 20-7 at halftime as Brandon Bolden and Cordera Eason had touchdown runs of six and 12 yards, respectively. Jevan Snead threw for 222 yards.

The Rebels dominated the second half, scoring on the opening series on a five-yard run by Enrique Davis. Ole Miss finished with 424 yards on offense.

Samford (2-1) scored on a 13-yard run by Riley Hawkins with 1:09 left in the first period for a 7-3 lead. The touchdown was set up by a 36-yard interception return by Jeremy Richardson.

That set up the Ole Miss offensive outburst, stopped on a 25-yard field goal by John Paul Fraites with 5:03 remaining. Samford finished with198 yards in total offense, did not turn the ball over and had a pair of interceptions.