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Shea Patterson train arrives in big way at College Station to take Rebels’ reins
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Shea Patterson rolled right, saw Texas A&M linebacker Claude George, reversed course on a dime and found a wide open Damore’ea Stringfellow for a 6-yard touchdown pass from the 21-yard line.
It was his first career touchdown pass, and he looked like Johnny Manziel on the same field Manziel did the exact same things. It wasn’t until Friday when news broke that Patterson would have his redshirt removed. Not even 48 hours after, Patterson went from No. 1 quarterback in the 2016 class to Rebels savior following a 29-28 win over No. 8 Texas A&M.
Patterson was 10-of-18 for 92 yards in the first half. He finished with 338 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pick on 25-of-42 passing. He led four straight scoring drives – three of them touchdowns – and Ole Miss scored 23 points in the fourth quarter. He rushed 15 times for 64 yards.
He was drawing comparisons to Manziel for his scary ability after leaving the pocket, comparisons to Archie Manning for the throws he made to the sidelines. Patterson wasn’t ready to accept the high praise. He best get ready to dodge it.
Down 21-6 at the half, Ole Miss’ defense played a second half unlike any half this season, a spark from Patterson that sparked him right back. He showed a flash of what was to come with three straight completions for 64 yards to three receivers before Jason Pellerin came in near the red zone and lost a fumble in the first half.
Ole Miss went to Pellerin twice near the end zone in the half after Patterson led drives there. But Patterson’s comeback ended the anger of those coaching moves.
Patterson looked every bit the gamer, scrambling when he needed to, staying poised in the pocket, throwing lasers with the tightest of spirals and limiting freshman mistakes to a couple of things he will get the pleasure to watch on film to correct.
All in all, his debut was stellar.
For comparison, Eli Manning in his debut completed 20-of-23 passes for 271 yards and set a then-school single-game record with 5 touchdown passes against Murray State as well as an Ole Miss single-game record with 18 straight completions.
Bo Wallace threw for 264 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 picks in his debut against Central Arkansas. Chad Kelly threw for 211 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception in his debut against UT-Martin.
Minutes after Patterson led a drive that culminated in Gary Wunderlich’s game-winning kick, ESPN cameras caught a fan telling Patterson he loved him as the freshman left the field.
Patterson was down 14-3 in front of a very loud crowd of 105,000 fans. At one point, he was 4-for-9 for 27 yards behind a makeshift offensive line using a pair of centers. He chased four early snaps. But on an early third down, he took off, broke through a sandwich tackle and shoved Donovan Wilson on a mission past the virtual yellow line. The drive resulted in Ole Miss’ second field goal and it trailed 14-6.
Patterson has a slew of receivers. Stringfellow made a one-handed catch. A.J. Brown slung tacklers off like flies. Van Jefferson made an over-the-shoulder touchdown grab. Evan Engram scooped up a pass for Patterson’s first completion. He completed passes to seven of them.
He also made mistakes, one time eyeing a receiver and throwing a pick as Jefferson stood wide open in the middle of the field, another time lateralling a ball instead of taking a sack.
But the legend has begun. Beat Vandy. Win Egg Bowl. Win bowl game. That would be eight wins to bury a once-forgettable season and give birth to a legend.
