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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Overwhelmed at Arkansas
10/21/2006 | Football
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Felix Jones returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, and No. 15 Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 38-3 Saturday to remain the only team with a perfect Southeastern Conference record.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 79 yards and Brent Schaeffer was 11-of-30 for 118 yards for Ole Miss.
Jones was second in the nation with a 31.9-yard average on kickoff returns last year, but hadn't shown the same explosiveness on special teams this season. That changed when he caught the opening kickoff at the goal line, waited patiently for an opening, then ran up the middle and untouched down the left side.
Arkansas scored on its first offensive possession against Ole Miss (2-6, 1-4) to lead 14-0. With the ball at the Rebel 4, McFadden lined up in a shotgun position while quarterback Mitch Mustain was out at wide receiver. McFadden took the snap and ran up the middle for a touchdown.
The Razorbacks ran a variation of that play several times -- including earlier that drive when McFadden took the snap and handed off to Jones.
Peyton Hillis scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, and Arkansas led 21-3 at halftime.
McFadden, who entered as the SEC's leading rusher, was held to 65 yards rushing. He did score on a 70-yard reception late in the third quarter when he took a screen pass and raced past a few defenders down the left sideline.
That play was reviewed and upheld by the officials, then a scoreboard replay appeared to show McFadden's foot stepping on the sideline. Even though the play already had been upheld, the Arkansas fans let out a startled "Ohhhhh" when the play was shown.
Mustain, now 6-0 as a starter for Arkansas, had an efficient game throwing mostly short passes. The freshman went 12-of-15 for 157 yards. Casey Dick replaced Mustain in the fourth quarter and promptly threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to London Crawford.
The Razorbacks (6-1, 4-0 SEC) became bowl eligible. They had missed the postseason the last two years after going to a bowl in each of Houston Nutt's first six seasons as coach. They lost their opener this year 50-14 to Southern California, but have bounced back strong.
