FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –Ole Miss lost to Arkansas after a six-yard run by Jared Cornelius with 2:20 left on the clock pushed the No. 22 Razorbacks (5-2, 1-2 SEC) to a 34-30 win over the No. 12 Rebels (3-3, 1-2 SEC) Saturday night at Razorback Stadium.
Senior quarterback Chad Kelly pulled 334 total yards with 253 passing, 89 rushing, passing for one touchdown and rushing for two more. Tight end Evan Engram threw seven passes for 111 yards and 1 touchdown, all team highs. Engram recorded his third 100-yard game of the season while finding the end zone for the 12th time in his career.
The Razorbacks took the opening score. While Ole Miss defense held Arkansas to -13 yards on its opening drive, the Razorbacks went 82 yards in five plays on the following drive, completed with a 51-yard touchdown pass from Austin Allen to Dominque Reed.
While the Rebs held Arkansas at bay during the first quarter, The Razorbacks responded with 10 straight points to secure a double-digit lead early in the second quarter, 17-6. Once again, Ole Miss found the end zone as Akeem Judd scored the 2-yard touchdown.
After another field goal for the Razorbacks, Kelly led the Rebs to another touchdown late in the first half to tie the game, 20-20.
Arkansas pulled ahead with 3:29 left in the third as Williams III scored, followed by The Rebels’ 33-yard field goal by Gary Wunderlich.
Ole Miss defense provided a much-needed turnover in favor of the Rebels. A furious pass rush by Terry Caldwell forced a pass as the Arkansas QB threw it to Marquis Haynes. Kelly ran 11 yards to get the Rebels in the red zone before he kept the ball and sprinted 17 yards into the end zone. The quarterback’s second rushing touchdown of the night gave Ole Miss a 30-27 lead with nine minutes to go in the game.
Arkansas took the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Ole Miss faces LSU next week as The Magnolia Bowl Trophy will be up for grabs at 8 p.m. Saturday.
