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The University of Mississippi Athletics
FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Ole Miss - LSU 1998
11/18/2011 | Football
Nov. 18, 2011
FRIDAY FLASHBACK rewinds to some of the memorable Ole Miss games from this week's all-time series. This week features the Rebels' 37-31 overtime win over LSU in 1998.
Hallo-lujah! Rebels spook Tigers 37-31 in OT thriller
By Robert Falkoff, Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
From Deuce McAllister to Romaro Miller, from Cory Peterson to Syniker Taylor, the Rebels were the stars of the surreal Saturday in a 37-31 overtime victory that sent the heavily favored Tigers head over heels and out of the Southeastern Conference Western Division race.
As far as the delirious Rebel fans are concerned, this Halloween thriller was good enough to make Jamie Lee Curtis envious.
Ole Miss dominated LSU for three quarters, pulled an SMU-like folding act in the fourth quarter and then won on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Peterson in overtime. Defensive back Syniker Taylor broke up Herb
"We've won big games here, but I'd put this one right at the top," Ole Miss tight end Rufus French said. "This team laid it on the line with everything it had. This was the best."
After seven games of on-the-job training, an Ole Miss team with only five seniors grew up Saturday. Everything came together in perfect harmony as the offense, defense, and special teams put it together and fed off what coach Tommy Tuberville said was the best atmosphere for a college football game he has ever seen.
The Rebels drew 50,577 in expanded Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and the electricity from the biggest crowd ever to see a campus game in Mississippi served Ole Miss well when it came down to the final frenetic seconds.
"We finally won a big game at home," Tuberville said. "We actually made it closer than what it should have been, but the reason we won the football game today was because of determination, pride, and 42,000 Ole Miss fans."
For the second year in a row, Ole Miss torched the LSU defense. Whether it's Carl Reese or Lou Tepper guiding the Tiger defenders, it doesn't seem to matter. McAllister rushed for 176 yards, Miller threw for 279 and the Rebels were cruising with a 31-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
But the final period was SMU in reverse for the Rebels.
The Tigers capitalized on a short punt, an interception and a Joe Gunn fumble to ring up three touchdowns. The final score came with two seconds left in regulation as
In overtime, the Rebels faced second-and-10 from the 25 after a holding call when Miller drilled a pass to Peterson on a seam route. Just before Peterson crossed the goal line, he was hit and the ball popped free. But Peterson stayed with it and the ball plopped back into his hands as he went down in the end zone.
"It came down right in my lap," Peterson said.
Still, Ole Miss faced a tenuous situation after Carlisle McGee's extra point attempt was blocked by Arnold Miller.
The Tigers had visions of a 38-37 victory when
The Rebels, 6-2 and 3-2 in the SEC, are still alive in the race for the SEC West title. LSU, 4-4 and 2-4, can only hope for a bid to a second-tier bowl after being ranked as high as No. 6 this year.
"Coming into this game, we had confidence that we could move the ball," Miller Said. "This win is huge for us. I wish we could celebrate longer, but we've got to get ready for
McAllister's 176 yards marked the first time LSU has surrendered a 100-yard performance to a running back since John Avery did it in
