By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Ole Miss edges Arkansas 52-51 on a final defensive stand.

After big losses to Alabama and Georgia a week ago, both Ole Miss and Arkansas entered Saturday needing to respond. Both teams did. In a thrilling game that came down to one final final conversion attempt after regulation expired, the Rebels made one more play. Ole Miss, denying the Razorbacks on a deciding two-point conversion try with no time left after Arkansas drew within one with a touchdown as the clock hit zero, earned a critical triumph to move to 4-1. In a matchup with 103 total points, one defensive stop was the difference.

The Rebels and Razorbacks combined for 1,287 offensive yards, 674 rushing yards and 60 first downs and 41 total points in the fourth quarter alone. Before the final defensive stand, Ole Miss took a late lead on a 68-yard touchdown strike from Matt Corral to Braylon Sanders with 1:07 remaing. After yet another dramatic Arkansas answer, the Rebels read the correspondig two-point play perfectly and forced an overthrow as the Razorbacks went for the win. In an instant classic, the home team held serve.

Though Corral threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, with the highlight play to Sanders, it was the Ole Miss running game that stood out. Harry Parrish and Snooper Conner topped the 100-yard mark, with Conner scoring three times. Corral added 94 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. The Rebels ran 49 times for 324 yards and five scores and very nearly producted three different 100-yard rushers. Sanders and Dontario Drummond caught touchdown passes.

It was a wild win for Ole Miss, one which gives the Rebels considerable momentum heading into a three-game SEC stretch against at Tennessee, versus LSU and at Auburn. These are the types of games you have to win in college football’s toughest conference, especially in the SEC West. Ole Miss is meeting the challenge. Lane Kiffin and the Rebels are now 3-1 in their last four one-score games. There is clear confidence heading into a defining part of the schedule.

Ole Miss should return to the national top 15 after Saturday and, with a lone loss at Alabama, can move into the top ten with more success. A New Year’s Six bowl game could be on the horizon. This is a very good team, one that is now averaging 46.2 points per game. The Rebels just got an important victory. They are ready for more.