It was déjà vu all over again for Ole Miss as Vanderbilt scored what looked to be the game-winning touchdown with 1:30 to go, but senior running back Jeff Scott did the unthinkable and scattered 75-yards for the game-winning score to give Ole Miss the 39-35 win.
“We stole one tonight, didn’t necessarily play that well, especially defense in the second half,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “You play until the whistle blows at the end of the game.
“We obviously have a lot to fix.”
After taking a 10-0 lead early, Ole Miss looked like a different team in the second quarter, allowing Vanderbilt to score 21 unanswered points and take a 21-10 lead into the locker room.
Ole Miss battled back and used freshman wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, who had nine catches for 82 yards, on their way to scoring three second-half touchdowns that gave them a 32-28 lead.
It looked like the Rebels had the game in hand with Vanderbilt facing a 4th-and-18 from their own 24-yard line. Then Commodore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels found star wideout Jordan Matthews for a 42-yard gain.
“Matthews is a heck of a player,” Freeze said. “He gets in and out of breaks as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.”
One play later, Carta-Samuels connected with Steven Scheu for a 34-yard touchdown to give Vanderbilt a 35-32 lead with 1:30 to go.
Then, Scott made the miraculous run.
“So happy for Jeff because he has really bought into our program,” Freeze said. “One of my favorite kids. He’s making grades and living right.”
The drama wouldn’t end there.
Vanderbilt returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards and a 15-yard face mask penalty put the Commodores in prime field position. Three plays later, junior safety Cody Prewitt ended the threat with an interception, sealing the win.
“The staple of our program is that you have to fight until the end,” Freeze said.
The first half was the proverbial “tale of two quarters.” The Rebels defense came out looking hot, only giving up two first downs in the entire first quarter. First-year players contributed greatly to the Rebels’ dominant first quarter, including freshmen defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, huskie Tony Conner, wideout Laquon Treadwell and tight end Evan Engram.
Fifth-year kicker Andrew Ritter drilled his first ever field goal, a 30-yarder. Conner intercepted Carta-Samuels’ pass on the Vanderbilt 31-yard line. Second-string Ole Miss quarterback Barry Brunetti then scored on a 1-yard rush after an offensive drive to make the score 10-0 Ole Miss.
The second quarter was a completely different situation. Vanderbilt stole the Rebels’ momentum right back, and the 40,350 people in Vanderbilt Stadium got behind the home team.
Vanderbilt got on the board after driving 71 yards in 6 minutes and 13 seconds and scoring a touchdown, making it 10-7 in favor of Ole Miss. The Rebels went three-and-out, and Vandy answered quickly with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Vandy star wideout Jordan Matthews, making the score 14-10 Vanderbilt. They put together yet another long scoring drive later in the quarter to make it 21-10 in favor of the Commodores.
The third quarter started much better for the Rebels. The offense drove the ball into Vanderbilt territory, but Ritter missed a 44-yard field goal. The defense forced a Vanderbilt three-and-out, giving the Rebels the ball back. Wallace led the Rebels down the field, throwing four straight passes to Treadwell. Brunetti scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a three-yard rush, making the score 21-17 Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt drove the ball right back down the field on a 75-yard drive, scoring another touchdown making the score 28-17 Vanderbilt.
The Rebels answered right away in the next offensive possession and drove the ball 75 yards as well. Wallace made a three-yard score on the ground, and the Rebels converted a two-point conversion, making the score 28-25 Vanderbilt with 27 seconds left in the third quarter.
Ole Miss drove the ball 86 yards on 11 plays, and Wallace scored another rushing touchdown to make it 32-28 Ole Miss. Wallace ended the game 31-for-47 for 283 yards through the air and had 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The Rebels return to action for their home opener against Southeast Missouri next Saturday.
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