Ole Miss Edges Arkansas In Another Classic, 52-51

Ole Miss Edges Arkansas In Another Classic, 52-51

I’m so sad. I can’t lie. This Arkansas-Ole Miss Series never disappoints. Just great game after great game.

There is rarely any defense and always a lot of fireworks.

Saturday was no different in Oxford, Mississippi. The Ole Miss QB Matt Corral came into today as a heralded Heisman candidate. He delivered as he went for 287 passing yards, 94 rushing yards, and 4 total touchdowns. Ole Miss racked up 611 total yards against an Arkansas defense that had been pretty stout all season. Tackling was an issue for the Hogs today. Many misplays in late down situations that kept Ole Miss’ offense on the field.

The Rebels were just 5-14 on 3^rd down, but were 4-5 on 4^th down. Corral gave the Razorback defense problems all day. He is a very patient runner and it showed.

What we saw from the defense today was very concerning. Sam Pittman said post game that today on tackling, “I’m not positive why. I thought we had a really good physical week of practice…We couldn’t tackle.”

The game was back and forth from the beginning as the Arkansas offense soared today. K.J. Jefferson was great! 25 of 35 for 326 passing yards, 85 rushing yards, and 6 total touchdowns. Treylon Burks, Trey Knox, and Warren Thompson were the favorite targets today as the combined for 16 catches for 249 yards.

Arkansas had 676 yards of total offense with 350 of it on the ground. Rocket Sanders had 139 yards and Trelon Smith had 85 yards.

The Hogs drove the length of the field in the final minute and scored as the clock hit zero with a touchdown catch for Warren Thompson. Sam Pittman said that he told the team before that drive that they would go for 2 and play for the win if they scored.

On the 2-point conversion attempt, Jefferson rolled out to the right and attemped to pass to Treylon Burks, but the pass was high and landed incomplete. Burks was well-covered and replay would show that RB Dominique Johnson was open for a shovel pass that likely would have ended in a conversion.

We can all obsess over little plays that cost Arkansas the game. The truth is Ole Miss made less mistakes. No matter how good or bad the defenses may play, the team that makes the least amount of mistakes usually wins.

Arkansas will finally play a game in Fayetteville next week as Auburn comes to town for another 11am kick.