OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Quarterbacks Bo Wallace and Barry Brunetti directed Mississippi to a 31-point outburst in a 20-minute span in the first half to highlight a win over FCS member Southeast Missouri 31-13.
The Rebels (2-0) scored on five consecutive series in the decisive surge, highlighted by touchdown passes of 64 and 67 yards from Wallace to Evan Engram and Donte Moncrief, respectively. Wallace was 8 of 15 for 188 yards and did not play in the second half.
Brunetti scored a 4-yard touchdown run and had a game-high 111 yards on 18 carries.
Ole Miss accounted for 532 yards in total offense, including a 10-yard touchdown run from I'Tavious Mathers and a 37-yard field goal from Andrew Ritter.
Southeast Missouri (0-2) of the Ohio Valley Conference, was led by Scott Lathorp, who threw touchdown passes of 14 and 16 yards to D.J. Foster and Spencer Davis, respectively. Lathrop finished 16 of 24 for 159 yards.
The Ole Miss win, its fourth straight dating back to last season, came before 60,815 in the only home appearance for the Rebels in the opening five games.
Ole Miss needed a touchdown run in the final 90 seconds to win their SEC and season opener at Vanderbilt. This time, the Rebels were never seriously threatened, dominating a 20-minute period that spanned the first and second periods.
During the scoring surge, the Ole Miss defense, led by linebacker Serderius Bryant with15 tackles, forced three punts, a Southeast Missouri fumble and turned the Redhawks over on downs.
Southeast Missouri made a brief flurry in the third period on Lathrop's two touchdown passes. Foster led the Redhawks with six receptions for 53 yards. Southeast Missouri forced three Ole Miss turnovers, including a pair of fumbles by Brunetti, to keep the score from getting out of hand.
The Redhawks are 0-5 against Southeastern Conference foes, losing twice to Arkansas and Missouri. Southeast Missouri has been outscored 178-23 in those meetings.