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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Mississippi Drops Heartbreaker in Overtime
6/21/1999 | Football
October 10, 1998
By JENNA HALVATGIS
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - Ryan Pflugner kicked a 22-yard field goal in overtime Saturday to give Alabama a 20-17 victory over Mississippi, the Crimson Tide's eighth straight victory over the Rebels.
Ole Miss (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) got the ball first in overtime, but Romaro Miller's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Steve Stanley and Alabama took over.
Shaun Alexander had carries of 18 and 4 yards to move the Tide (3-2, 2-2) within range for Pflugner's field goal.
Pflugner had a chance to win it in regulation, but his 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired was blocked by Timothy Strickland.
The Rebels had tied it 17-17 on the previous possession when Donald Juneau made a 20-yard field goal with 3:33 to play. At that point, it seemed like Ole Miss would be able to come from behind for the third straight game. The Rebels trailed Southern Miss by 22 points with 9:45 to play two weeks ago and won 48-41 in overtime. They also rallied for a 30-28 victory over South Carolina last week.
Against Alabama, Ole Miss didn't get that far behind. Mississippi was able to answer every Alabama score and keep the game close. Trailing 10-7 at halftime, the Rebels came out and marched 65 yards in six plays, taking a 14-10 lead on Joe Gunn's 5-yard run.
Alabama regained the lead when Andrew Zow hooked up with Alexander for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 6:38 to play. The score, which gave Alabama a 17-14 lead, was Alexander's first-ever touchdown reception.
Ole Miss came back as Miller took the ball down to the 3. The Rebels, who had already converted one fourth down and picked up first downs on a fake punt and a pass interference call on fourth-and-2, called two timeouts before opting to kick the game-tying field goal.
The loss on Alabama's homecoming spoiled a 188-yard rushing effort by tailback Deuce McAllister. The Rebels have only beaten Alabama in Tuscaloosa once before, a 22-12 victory on homecoming in 1988.
Zow, making his first career start, was 15-of-30 for 272 yards with one interception and a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter. Alexander finished with 125 yards rushing and three catches for 72 yards.
