Ole Miss dominates Okla. St. to win Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — Chad Kelly three three of his four touchdown passes to Laquon Treadwell and No. 12 Mississippi rolled to a 48-20 victory over No. 16 Oklahoma State on Friday night in its first Sugar Bowl appearance since 1970.

Treadwell also completed a 45-yard pass on a trick play to continue a scoring drive and left tackle Laremy Tunsil scored a 2-yard touchdown at the end of the first half.

Kelly's four touchdown passes tied a Sugar Bowl record held by three other quarterbacks. Treadwell joined Ike Hilliard as the only other player to catch three touchdown passes in a Sugar Bowl game.

Ole Miss set a school bowl record with 554 yards of offense and its defense was also dominant with 10 pass breakups and 12 tackles for loss.

The Bulldogs' record-shattering first half began nastily. On Kelly's second pass of the game, he heaved an ill-advised deep ball into double coverage that Oklahoma State cornerback Ashton Lampkin intercepted.

Then, with as much ease, Kelly threw three touchdowns — two to Treadwell — to help Ole Miss build a 34-6 halftime lead and tie a Sugar Bowl record for most points in the first half.

Kelly's second touchdown — a fade to Treadwell that was caught despite pass interference — gave him the school season record for receiving yards previously held by Shay Hodge.

Complemented by the Landshark defense that held Oklahoma State to 156 first-half yards, Kelly connected with six different receivers throughout a sparkling first half that left him with a 204.7 rating.

Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph, who had foot surgery last month that left an sliver of doubt over who would start the game, played all but one snap in the first half. It was a crucial one to miss.

Facing third-and-1 on the Ole Miss 8-yard line in a scoreless game, Rudolph was lifted for senior J.W. Walsh, who was stuffed on a sneak that forced Oklahoma State to take a field goal instead of driving in for an opening touchdown. The Rebels scored touchdowns on three of their next four drives.

NOTES: Ole Miss was without All-American DT Robert Nkemdiche, who was suspended for the Sugar Bowl after he was charged with marijuana possession in an Atlanta hotel. Nkemdiche, a junior, declared for the NFL Draft in a statement released by the school at the time of his suspension. ... Ole Miss was 2-0 against Oklahoma State in recent bowl games, winning the 2004 and 2010 Cotton Bowls. ... Rebels WR Damore'ea Stringfellow was ruled out for the game at the start of the second quarter with a right ankle injury. ... The loss was Oklahoma State's first in its last eight games away from home. ... QB J.W. Walsh has now scored a touchdown in each of Oklahoma State's 13 games.