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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Hold on for 37-31 Overtime Victory
6/21/1999 | Football
October 31, 1998
Final Stats | Notes | Quotes
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Romaro Miller threw four touchdowns, the last a 25-yarder to Cory Peterson in overtime as Mississippi defeated LSU 37-31 on Saturday.
The Rebels (6-2, 3-2 SEC) scored on the third play of overtime. After Peterson made the catch near the 3, the ball popped up about five feet - and then dropped right into his lap between three defenders as he fell into the end zone.
But a low snap led to a blocked extra point and gave LSU (4-4, 2-4), which overcame a 31-10 deficit in the final 10 minutes of regulation, another chance to win.
LSU needed two plays to get to the 10, but after Kevin Faulk picked up six yards, two rushing plays gained nothing. On the last play of the game, Herb Tyler rolled left, but Larry Foster couldn't handle the low pass in the end zone.
The Rebels posted consecutive victories over LSU for the first time since 1968-69, when Archie Manning was the Rebels quarterback. The Rebels won 36-21 last season in Baton Rouge.
Deuce McAllister ran for 176 yards, his third straight 100-yard game, and converted three fourth downs for the Rebels, who have won two of their three overtime games this season.
On the game's opening drive, McAllister converted fourth downs in Mississippi territory with runs of 3 and 5 yards and then scampered outside for another 30 yards. Joe Gunn scored on a 3-yard run and the Rebels never trailed.
After LSU closed to 31-24 with about three minutes left, McAllister converted another fourth down. But just a play after his 4-yard run near midfield, Gunn fumbled the ball to set up LSU.
On the Tigers game-tying drive, Tyler rushed four times for 37 yards and completed 3-of-4 passes for 22 yards, including the 1-yard TD to Rondell Mealey with just two seconds left.
Tyler and Faulk each had 3-yard TD runs earlier in the fourth quarter, Faulk's coming three plays after Aaron Adams intercepted a Miller pass and returned it 24 yards to the LSU 30.
Still, LSU lost for the fourth time in five games, all in the SEC. The Tigers, the preseason favorite to win the SEC West, were eliminated from contention with the loss.
Miller finished 16-of-23 for 279 yards, including 9-of-10 with three TDs before halftime - 36 yards to Peterson, 21 yards to Rufus French and 23 yards to L.J. Taylor.
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
