The University of Mississippi Athletics
Drama Rules The Day at Vaught-Hemingway
11/7/2015 | Football, Blog
By Brandon Lee, Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations
Drama in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,680 between the No. 18 Rebels and Arkansas? It was that and a whole lot more in a back-and-forth Saturday night knockdown, drag-out SEC West matchup.
A near 1,200 combined total yards.
Time of possession in which Arkansas dominated 41:03 to Ole Miss' 18:57.
But that's just scratching the surface of what went down in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
A blocked field goal as regulation time expired, and then what looked to be a sure Rebel victory when Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25 from the 40-yard line wasn't enough as the Hogs escaped Oxford and stunned the home-standing Rebels.
"It is an extremely difficult way to end the game," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "I hurt for our kids, for our coaches, our fans and our administration. You put so much into this deal and then you lose a game like tonight that comes down to the wire. It is very difficult and gut-wrenching. It will test everything about you."
The two teams combined for 14 drives in the second half and overtime. Ten of them resulted in touchdowns. Arkansas had three drives lasting longer than five minutes and six more that were 3-plus minutes. Ole Miss finished with just one over the three-minute mark, but scored on eight of 12 total drives.
Outside the dramatic ending, that was the name of the game as neither team could defend the opposing offense. In 24 combined drives, each side punted just three times.
Both quarterbacks put up 350-plus passing yards with one rusher over 100 yards on the ground. Both teams were perfect in the red zone (Arkansas 5-of-5, Ole Miss 7-of-7).
Penalties were also limited with six combined for just 42 yards, but the biggest one of the night and potentially all season came in the Hogs' overtime possession. After a touchdown, Bret Bielema elected for the 2-point play. The (first) attempt was no good as Marquis Haynes sacked Brandon Allen, but a facemask penalty gave the Hogs new life and another attempt at the eventual game-winner.
"They were struggling to stop us also," Freeze added. "I haven't seen the film yet, but there was a facemask call that seemed like it was the right call. It was a very difficult way to end the game. It doesn't surprise me, though."
Despite the loss, Ole Miss put together some notes for the record book in the offensive sprint to the finish. The Rebels' 590 yards were the most against an SEC team in the Hugh Freeze era. Chad Kelly, who had three passing TDs and three rushing TDs, extended his single-season school record with his seventh 300-yard passing game. He also threw a touchdown pass in his 10th-straight game, fourth-most in school history.
Laquon Treadwell went for 132 yards and a score, his school-record fifth straight with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also posted his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season to take over sole possession of the single-season school record.
Next up, the Rebels take a much-needed bye week to prep for a showdown versus LSU Nov. 21 in Oxford.
Drama in front of a sold-out crowd of 60,680 between the No. 18 Rebels and Arkansas? It was that and a whole lot more in a back-and-forth Saturday night knockdown, drag-out SEC West matchup.
A near 1,200 combined total yards.
Time of possession in which Arkansas dominated 41:03 to Ole Miss' 18:57.
But that's just scratching the surface of what went down in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
A blocked field goal as regulation time expired, and then what looked to be a sure Rebel victory when Arkansas faced a fourth-and-25 from the 40-yard line wasn't enough as the Hogs escaped Oxford and stunned the home-standing Rebels.
"It is an extremely difficult way to end the game," head coach Hugh Freeze said. "I hurt for our kids, for our coaches, our fans and our administration. You put so much into this deal and then you lose a game like tonight that comes down to the wire. It is very difficult and gut-wrenching. It will test everything about you."
The two teams combined for 14 drives in the second half and overtime. Ten of them resulted in touchdowns. Arkansas had three drives lasting longer than five minutes and six more that were 3-plus minutes. Ole Miss finished with just one over the three-minute mark, but scored on eight of 12 total drives.
Outside the dramatic ending, that was the name of the game as neither team could defend the opposing offense. In 24 combined drives, each side punted just three times.
Both quarterbacks put up 350-plus passing yards with one rusher over 100 yards on the ground. Both teams were perfect in the red zone (Arkansas 5-of-5, Ole Miss 7-of-7).
Penalties were also limited with six combined for just 42 yards, but the biggest one of the night and potentially all season came in the Hogs' overtime possession. After a touchdown, Bret Bielema elected for the 2-point play. The (first) attempt was no good as Marquis Haynes sacked Brandon Allen, but a facemask penalty gave the Hogs new life and another attempt at the eventual game-winner.
"They were struggling to stop us also," Freeze added. "I haven't seen the film yet, but there was a facemask call that seemed like it was the right call. It was a very difficult way to end the game. It doesn't surprise me, though."
Despite the loss, Ole Miss put together some notes for the record book in the offensive sprint to the finish. The Rebels' 590 yards were the most against an SEC team in the Hugh Freeze era. Chad Kelly, who had three passing TDs and three rushing TDs, extended his single-season school record with his seventh 300-yard passing game. He also threw a touchdown pass in his 10th-straight game, fourth-most in school history.
Laquon Treadwell went for 132 yards and a score, his school-record fifth straight with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. He also posted his sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season to take over sole possession of the single-season school record.
Next up, the Rebels take a much-needed bye week to prep for a showdown versus LSU Nov. 21 in Oxford.
Players Mentioned
PRESSER | Cade Townsend - NCAA Selection Show (05-25-26)
Monday, May 25
PRESSER | Will Furniss - NCAA Selection Show (05-25-26)
Monday, May 25
PRESSER | Hunter Elliott - NCAA Selection Show (05-25-26)
Monday, May 25
PRESSER | Judd Utermark - NCAA Selection Show (05-25-26)
Monday, May 25