Condensed Game: Ole Miss defense ’pulled us through’ in gritty win over Arkansas
Ole Miss put on an offensive show in a thrilling win over LSU last week.
It was the Rebel defense’s turn in the spotlight Saturday against Arkansas.
The No. 16-ranked Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) were challenged by their head coach, Lane Kiffin, earlier this week, and they responded by stonewalling the Razorbacks (2-4, 0-3 SEC) for a 27-20 win in front of another sold-out Vaught-Hemingway Stadium crowd.
Ole Miss held Arkansas to 288 total yards of offense, the fewest for the Rebels against an SEC opponent since 2019. The Rebels allowed just 36 rushing yards to the accomplished back-field duo of Arkansas dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson and veteran running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders.
“Definitely wasn’t pretty,” Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart said afterwards. “I think it says a lot about a team to be able to come out with a win like this. It always happens with Arkansas; it’s kind of a weird game, I guess.
“But shout-out to the defense. They definitely put this one on their back and pulled us through.”
Not since Tennessee (0) in 2014 has Ole Miss held an SEC opponent to fewer rushing yards.
The Rebels, under first-year defensive coordinator Pete Golding, had a season-high five sacks and two interceptions, including the game-winner by John Saunders Jr. in the fourth quarter.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Leonard Hamilton
FSU coach to step down following season
- 2New
Top 25 shakeup
AP Poll sees massive changes
- 3Hot
NFL Mock Draft
QBs falling in ESPN 2-round mock
- 4
John Calipari
'He was the right guy for the job'
- 5
Jeremiah Smith reacts
Chip Kelly news hits hard
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Ole Miss running backs Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley IV combined for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Dart completed 16 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown — a six-yard completion to senior wide receiver Dayton Wade.
The Rebels now enter their bye week before returning to action with a road trip to Auburn October 21.
