OXFORD — The No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels scored early and often in their season opener Saturday night, dominating the visiting Furman Paladins 76-0 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Rebels (1-0) scored on every first-half drive except their last, when Caden Davis missed a 53-yard field goal wide right. Quarterback Jaxson Dart totaled six touchdowns (five passing) in the first two quarters and threw for more than 400 yards as Ole Miss took a 52-0 lead at halftime.

One of the Rebels’ seven first-half touchdowns came on a rush by defensive tackle J.J. Pegues, who received a direct snap from two yards out in the first quarter. Ole Miss’ halftime point total was the Rebels’ most in a first half since at least 1962, according to the school’s communications department.

Dart’s favorite target on the day was none other than wide receiver Tre Harris who amassed 179 receiving yards in the first half with two scores. Dart was replaced at quarterback by Austin Simmons to start the third quarter, and the first pass of his career was a 35-yard touchdown to Cayden Lee.

In all, 10 Rebels caught at least one pass that night, and five recorded a receiving touchdown. Harris and Lee were joined in the receiving touchdown category by tight ends Caden Prieskorn and Dae’Quan Wright and wide receiver Juice Wells.

Wells scored for the first time in his Rebel career, scoring in the first quarter.

With the game already in hand in the second half, running back Matt Jones found the end zone twice for the Rebels after Simmons opened the third quarter with a passing score. Jones finished as Ole Miss’ leading rusher with 68 yards.

Ole Miss’ offense finished the night with 772 yards of total offense.

Ole Miss’ defense was also impressive in its debut, limiting Furman to 172 yards of total offense and collecting four sacks. Chris “Pooh” Paul led the way in total tackles with eight, and the Rebels had 16 tackles for loss as a unit on Saturday.

The day’s only turnover came on an interception by Trey Amos in the first quarter, giving the Rebels a short field that ultimately led to Pegues’ rushing score.

The revamped Rebels defensive line was also in evidence all night. Defensive tackles JJ Pegues and Walter Nolen combined for six tackles and three TFLs against the Paladin offensive line.

With the win, Ole Miss moved into the playoff hunt with a 1-0 record and the most points scored in the Lane Kiffin era. It returns home next weekend to host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. CT on Saturday and the game will be televised on SEC Network.