Aerial Assault Leads Ole Miss to 63-31 Win Over Arkansas

© Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 19 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) stomped Arkansas (5-4, 3-3) 63-31 inside Razorback Stadium on Nov. 2 behind 562 Rebels passing yards.

Dae'Quan Wright (9 catches, 99 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Jordan Watkins (8 catches, 254 yards, 5 touchdowns) were quarterback Jaxson Dart's favorite targets on Saturday afternoon in Ole Miss' trouncing of the Razorbacks.

Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (174 total yards) was injured on the Razorbacks' second drive of the game, and although he returned to play, he was replaced by backup Malachi Singleton (251 total yards, two touchdowns) in the second half, with Singleton leading two scoring drives. Andrew Armstrong (6 catches, 135 yards) was Arkansas' most reliable offensive weapon.

Game Summary

An Arkansas punt on the first possession of the game led to the first defining moment of the afternoon. The Razorbacks' defense did an admirable job, standing up the Rebels on the goal line after a long drive, but a subsequent sack-fumble by the Ole Miss defense turned into a defensive touchdown that gave the Rebels an early 7-0 lead.

Arkansas moved the football into Ole Miss territory on the ensuing possession, but an injury to quarterback Taylen Green derailed the drive. However, kicker Matthew Shipley knocked a 55-yard field goal through the uprights, getting Arkansas on the board.

Ole Miss marched back into the red zone on its next possession. Unlike the first possession of the game, the Rebels closed out the drive, with Dart tossing a touchdown pass to Wright on third-and-goal to give Ole Miss a 14-3 advantage.

A quick three-and-out by Arkansas led to an equally quick Ole Miss score when a 62-yard touchdown pass from Dart to Watkins on the first play of the drive extended Ole Miss' lead to 21-3.

The next series for both teams was Groundhog Day, as another Arkansas three-and-out led to another touchdown pass to Watkins, with this one going for 66 yards.

Arkansas finally responded on the ensuing possession, with a long pass to Andrew Armstrong serving as the catalyst for the Hogs' first touchdown of the game. Rashod Dubinion scored on a six-yard run to cut Ole Miss' lead to 28-10. The Razorback defense responded in kind, making a stop for the first time since Ole Miss' first drive of the game and getting the ball back for the offense.

Arkansas drove deep into Ole Miss territory, but a crucial sack on third down forced Arkansas to attempt a 45-yard field goal. But, inconsistent kicker play plagued the Razorbacks again, as Shipley missed, pushing the kick wide left.

Ole Miss once more marched right down the field, with Dart throwing a third touchdown to Watkins to give the Rebels a 35-10 halftime lead.

Watkins and Dart came out hot to start the second half, as a long scamper by Dart set up a fourth receiving TD for Watkins, extending Ole Miss' lead to 42-10. Singleton—who helped orchestrate Arkansas' upset of Tennessee on Oct. 5—led the Hogs down the field on their next drive, finishing the possession with a rushing TD that made the score 42-17.

Ole Miss' offense responded, however, with Dart completing a 58-yard pass to Cayden Lee that set up a rushing touchdown for JJ Pegues. Another three-and-out by the Arkansas offense led to Watkins' fifth receiving touchdown of the day, as Dart found his favorite target wide open for a 62-yard score.

Singleton and Arkansas put together another nice drive, with Rodney Hill punching it in for a score that cut Ole Miss' lead to 56-24.

Singleton broke free for an impressive run on Arkansas' first possession of the fourth quarter and then completed a 45-yard pass to Isaac TeSlaa, but TeSlaa fumbled right before reaching the end zone on a play that encapsulated the Hogs' horrific day.

Ole Miss backup quarterback Austin Simmons led the Rebels on their final scoring drive of the day, throwing a touchdown to Wright to make the score 63-24.

Singleton threw his first touchdown of the day to tight end Luke Hasz with 3:14 remaining, making the score 63-31.

Turning Point for Ole Miss

With Arkansas trailing 7-0 after a defensive touchdown by Ole Miss, Taylen Green led the Arkansas offense into Rebels territory. However, the drive was derailed when Green went down with a knee injury. Arkansas managed to get 3 points out of the drive, but a hobbled Green couldn't move the Arkansas offense anywhere over the next several drives, allowing the Rebels to run away with the game.

What it Means

Ole Miss retains its College Football Playoff hopes—for now. A huge matchup with No. 2 Georgia (6-1, 4-1) looms on Nov. 9. Arkansas has next week off to soul search before returning to action on Nov. 16 against No. 6 Texas (7-1, 3-1) inside Razorback Stadium.