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The University of Mississippi Athletics
SIDEBAR: Rebels Cap Off Historic Home Season
11/20/2021 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – When the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium scoreboard clock ran out Saturday night, Ole Miss had defeated Vanderbilt 31-17. And for the first time in its football history, Ole Miss finished a home season at 7-0.
It wasn't always easy for the Rebels in this one, but now it is complete. Their work, however, is far from done.
Up next is a trip to Mississippi State with a 10-win regular season on the line for the Rebels. That's never happened for an Ole Miss football team either.
The only seasons when the Rebels have won 10 games have always included a bowl victory, the latest of these coming on Jan. 1, 2016, when a win against Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl completed a 10-win campaign.
Less than five minutes into Saturday night's football game in Oxford, two-loss Ole Miss led two-win Vanderbilt 10-0. The rout was on, or so it appeared. But actually it wasn't.
From that point on - with 10:18 to go in the first quarter - until late in the fourth quarter, it was actually a fairly close contest, at least in terms of scoring. Although the Rebels led 24-9 at halftime, they were never really able to put this one away.
Henry Parrish scored on an 8-yard run with 12:50 to go in the game to make it 31-9, and at that point it seemed like things were in the Rebels' control. But Vanderbilt came right back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown, their first of the game, and with a two-point conversion to cut the Ole Miss lead to 14 points.
The Rebels appeared to be headed for a touchdown to answer, but Corral's pass attempt across the middle at the Commodore 1-yard line was picked off by Vandy linebacker Ethan Barr. Not until a Deantre Prince interception of a Mike Wright pass with 1:14 left on the clock at the Ole Miss 3-yard line was this one locked into the win column for Ole Miss.
Vandy finished the game leading in several statistical categories of note: roughly doubling the Rebels in possession minutes - 38:57 to 21:03. The Commodores ran an amazing 93 plays to Ole Miss' 65.
Vanderbilt rushed the football 49 times for 213 yards, an impressive achievement against a Rebel defense that's continued to improve this season.
But a key point was they were able to only score one touchdown as that same Rebel defense held the Commodores to three field goals in the first half and no points in the third quarter.
The Rebel offense went 1-for-9 on third down conversions against the Commodores. And while they seem to be a healthier unit than in the last several weeks, it will be difficult to win Thursday night without improvement in that department.
So it's on to MSU and a chance to make more history. But it's a rivalry game, and the opponent is performing at a quality level.
"They're playing extremely well," Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said of Mississippi State (7-4) after his team improved to 9-2. "They present a lot of challenges."
Corral said Ole Miss doesn't have much time to get ready for the Bulldogs. But that's what both teams are dealing with during this short week. Thanksgiving night will be upon us soon.
"(Sunday) is like a Tuesday," said Corral, 27-of-36 for 325 yards and two touchdowns against Vanderbilt, with only his third interception of the season. "We've got to make sure we're here and locked in. We've got to get back to work. We've got some stuff on the line."
It wasn't always easy for the Rebels in this one, but now it is complete. Their work, however, is far from done.
Up next is a trip to Mississippi State with a 10-win regular season on the line for the Rebels. That's never happened for an Ole Miss football team either.
The only seasons when the Rebels have won 10 games have always included a bowl victory, the latest of these coming on Jan. 1, 2016, when a win against Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl completed a 10-win campaign.
Less than five minutes into Saturday night's football game in Oxford, two-loss Ole Miss led two-win Vanderbilt 10-0. The rout was on, or so it appeared. But actually it wasn't.
From that point on - with 10:18 to go in the first quarter - until late in the fourth quarter, it was actually a fairly close contest, at least in terms of scoring. Although the Rebels led 24-9 at halftime, they were never really able to put this one away.
Henry Parrish scored on an 8-yard run with 12:50 to go in the game to make it 31-9, and at that point it seemed like things were in the Rebels' control. But Vanderbilt came right back, driving 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown, their first of the game, and with a two-point conversion to cut the Ole Miss lead to 14 points.
The Rebels appeared to be headed for a touchdown to answer, but Corral's pass attempt across the middle at the Commodore 1-yard line was picked off by Vandy linebacker Ethan Barr. Not until a Deantre Prince interception of a Mike Wright pass with 1:14 left on the clock at the Ole Miss 3-yard line was this one locked into the win column for Ole Miss.
Vandy finished the game leading in several statistical categories of note: roughly doubling the Rebels in possession minutes - 38:57 to 21:03. The Commodores ran an amazing 93 plays to Ole Miss' 65.
Vanderbilt rushed the football 49 times for 213 yards, an impressive achievement against a Rebel defense that's continued to improve this season.
But a key point was they were able to only score one touchdown as that same Rebel defense held the Commodores to three field goals in the first half and no points in the third quarter.
The Rebel offense went 1-for-9 on third down conversions against the Commodores. And while they seem to be a healthier unit than in the last several weeks, it will be difficult to win Thursday night without improvement in that department.
So it's on to MSU and a chance to make more history. But it's a rivalry game, and the opponent is performing at a quality level.
"They're playing extremely well," Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said of Mississippi State (7-4) after his team improved to 9-2. "They present a lot of challenges."
Corral said Ole Miss doesn't have much time to get ready for the Bulldogs. But that's what both teams are dealing with during this short week. Thanksgiving night will be upon us soon.
"(Sunday) is like a Tuesday," said Corral, 27-of-36 for 325 yards and two touchdowns against Vanderbilt, with only his third interception of the season. "We've got to make sure we're here and locked in. We've got to get back to work. We've got some stuff on the line."
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballPRESSER | Trinidad Chambliss - Postgame vs Tulane (09-20-25)
Saturday, September 20
PRESSER | Jaden Yates - Postgame vs Tulane (09-20-25)
Saturday, September 20
PRESSER | Deuce Alexander - Postgame vs Tulane (09-20-25)
Saturday, September 20
PRESSER | Lane Kiffin - Postgame vs Tulane (09-20-25)
Saturday, September 20