Judkins a Top 10 all-time Ole Miss rusher and the other need-to-know notes from win over Arkansas

This time a year ago there would have been little question where the ball was going with a game on the line and Ole Miss needing a touchdown. 

Quinshon Judkins. Always Quinshon Judkins.

Judkins as a true freshman set a new single-season school record for rushing yards. Now-fourth-year head coach Lane Kiffin made no secret off his every-game intention to seemingly run his always-high-powered offense through him.

The follow-up act, however, hasn’t quite come together. Judkins has rushed for 100 or more yards in just one of six games. Ulysses Bentley IV has gotten more and more run as the ground game has struggled.

But when the Rebels, trailing 20-17, had to have it Saturday at Arkansas, in what proved to be the game’s decisive dirve, Kiffin defaulted to Judkins. And Judkins delivered.

He had two critical runs, including a fourth-and-1 conversion and a season-long 34-yarder. In all, Judkins rushed 18 times for 65 yards and a touchdown, and the Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) rolled into a much-needed bye week with a 27-20 win.

“This bye week is very important for us with injuries and really executing in practice,” Judkins said afterwards. “Seeing some of the things we could fix from this past game and the game we just played. 

“Bye week is very important for us. Definitely excited to go back and play in Alabama. Looking forward to it.”

Making the Grade: How did Ole Miss fare in its win over Arkansas?

GENERAL NOTES

Ole Miss and Arkansas met for the 70th time, in a series dating back to 1908. … The Razorbacks hold a 37-30-1 series lead, but Ole Miss leads 9-6 in games played in Oxford. Arkansas holds an 18-12 edge since joining the SEC in 1992. … Five of the last nine games between the teams have been decided by four points or less. The home team has won each of the last five. … The largest crowd in school history saw Ole Miss’ thrilling win over LSU last week. The eighth-largest (65,748) attended Saturday’s showdown with Arkansas. … Ole Miss is now 1-1 when opponents score first. … The Rebels are 4-1 when leading at the half.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Judkins picked up his sixth rushing touchdown of the year and the 22nd of his career. … Judkins is tied for fifth all-time at Ole Miss in rushing touchdowns. He’s entered the Top 10 all-time at Ole Miss in career rushing yards. Judkins is currently ninth (2,010).

Bentley led the Rebels in rushing yards.

The one-time transfer from SMU had an Ole Miss career-high 94 yards on 13 attempts. … His seven-yard scoring touchdown was his third of the season and the 22nd of his career. … Quarterback Jaxson Dartwas 16 for 25 (64.0 percent) for 153 yards and one touchdown. … Wide receiver Dayton Wade hauled in his second receiving touchdown (a six-yarder) of the season. He has five for his career. … Wide receiver Jordan Watkins led Ole Miss in receptions (7) for the fourth time this season. He had 86 receiving yards.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

Ole Miss held Arkansas to just 288 total yards, the fewest surrendered to an SEC opponent since Vanderbilt in October of 2019 (264). … The Rebels gave up just 36 rushing yards, their fewest against an SEC opponent since holding Tennessee to zero in October of 2014. … Ole Miss had a season-high five sacks. The Rebels have had at least four sacks in four out of six games. … Ole Miss picked off two passes in the win. The last time the Rebels, defensively, had multiple interceptions was against Auburn a year ago. … Miami (Ohio) transfer safety John Saunders Jr., who had one of the interceptions, also recorded his second sack of the season and the third of his career. … His interception, with 1:42 remaining, was his first in a Rebel uniform and the sixth of his career.

Veteran Rebel safety Trey Washingtontopped the team in tackles (10, three solos) for the third time this season. 

Linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk, who had the other interception, and the second of his career, had a season-high nine tackles. Cistrunk combined for a sack for a loss of eight yards. … Defensive end Jared Ivey set a new career-high for tackles (8). He had a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss, too, for a loss of five yards. … Defensive tackle JJ Pegues assisted on a sack. He’s up to double-digits sacks (10.0) for his career. … Defensive tackle Jamond Gordon teamed with Pegues for a first-quarter sack. He now has three this season and 4.5 for his career. … Georgia Tech transfer DT Akelo Stoneand former On3 Five-Star Plus+ prospect Suntarine Perkins each had sacks as well. They’re both up to four in their respective careers. Stone has two and Perkins, a true freshman, has four. … Ole Miss senior cornerback Deantre Princeforced his first fumble since 2021, the second of his career. … James Madison transfer EDGE Isaac Ukwu had his third sack of the season. He has 19.5 for his career. 

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

Texas A&M transfer kicker Caden Davisnailed a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. He’s 11 for 14 this season and 12 for 18 in his career. … Ole Miss punter Fraser Masin punted four times, landing two inside the 20-yard line. His long was 51.