Francois threw the ball 52 times, completing 33 passes for 419 yards and 2 TD’s.
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We said it repeatedly last season: whether Jimbo Fisher wants to admit it or not, 2015 was a rebuilding year.
“His teammates believe in him and he’s a fighter”, Fisher said of his quarterback’s startling debut.
Several shortcomings cost Ole Miss, but nothing hurt more than having its up-tempo offense essentially slowed to a halt. His arm talent is impressive and his willingness to stay in the pocket to take the big hit on release was uncanny for a first time starter. Cook found little running room early, but he contributed big as a receiver with a career-high seven catches for 101 yards. Duke’s Dave Brown (1989) and Clemson’s Charlie Whitehurst (2002) also threw for over 400 yards in their first start but they had played as freshmen. It was the first of 4 ½ sacks for Walker and one of four turnovers FSU forced from Kelly.
NOTES: Florida State’s largest comeback in school history was actually 28 points against Florida in 1994, but it didn’t result in a win; instead a 31-31 tie with the rival Gators. FSU will have to clean up some sloppiness after committing 15 penalties for 127 yards.
FSU Kicker Ricky Aguayo, yes he is former FSU kicker Roberto Aguayo’s brother, also chipped in with 6 field goals. When Kermit Whitfield scored on a jet sweep in the third, Florida State went with an unbalanced line, to which the Rebels responded- and the ‘Noles simply used their fastest player to run away from the vast majority of the defense.
Webster did not detail the actual injury, but the junior defensive back left Monday’s game in the first quarter after landing awkwardly on his left leg.
In a roller coaster of a season opener on Monday night, the Ole Miss Rebels went from on the cusp of emerging as a top national title contender to falling apart and surrendering a historic comeback in a matter of minutes. For a while, Ole Miss looked destined for a jump into the top 10, but things unraveled in the second half.
“I said a year ago we probably would have lost that football game because we didn’t know how to finish”, Strong said. As much as FSU dominated in the second half, the Rebels still trailed by just one possession midway through the fourth quarter.
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Ole Miss will play host to Wofford at 3 p.m. Saturday (SEC Network) at renovated and expanded Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels roared to a 28-6 lead over No. 4 Florida State in Orlando, with its defensive linemen – looking even more ferocious despite losing Robert Nkemdiche, thanks in part to a banged-up FSU line – living in FSU QB Deondre Francois’ personal space.
