Postgame Points: Arkansas Game
Point No.1: Finish
The first postgame point this week is that Ole Miss still has a lot to play for in the regular season finale. Despite suffering a loss to Arkansas Saturday, the Rebels stand at 8-3 on the season, 4-3 in the SEC.
If the Rebels can finish the season strong by beating Mississippi State, it will improve the bowl game that the Rebels are sent to for the postseason. A win would bring the Egg Bowl trophy and bragging rights back to Oxford. As well, a victory would prevent the Bulldogs from winning the SEC West. Further, Ole Miss would finish third in the SEC West with a win over the archrival Bulldogs.
If Ole Miss defeats Mississippi State on Saturday, the Rebels will finish the regular season at 9-3, marking the best regular season record since the 2003 team directed by Eli Manning. Also, a win would give the Rebels a 6-1 home record for the year, which would be the best home record since the 2002 squad went 6-1 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Likewise, a victory over the Bulldogs would give Ole Miss a 5-3 SEC record. The last Rebel team to finish 5-3 in SEC play was the 2008 unit. Thus, Ole Miss has many significant things to play for in the Egg Bowl, including attempting to send out the seniors with a big win in their final game at home.
Point No.2: Evan Engram
Evan Engram broke an Ole Miss record Saturday. (Photo Credit: Bentley Breland)
The second postgame point is the record set by Evan Engram in the game against Arkansas. Engram hauled in 5 passes for 65 yards on the afternoon, one of the bright spots for the Rebel offense. For the season, Engram now has 475 receiving yards, a new school record for receiving yards by a tight end in a season.
In his 2 years in a Rebel uniform, Engram has shown Rebel fans why he is regarded as one of the best tight ends in the SEC and in all of college football. Fittingly, he is among the 8 finalists for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the top tight end in college football. The winner will be announced in early December. The award would be a nice achievement for Engram and could provide a boost of confidence for the Rebels heading into a bowl game.
Point No.3: More Records
In addition to the school record set by Evan Engram, Bo Wallace and Jaylen Walton etched their names into the record book on Saturday in Fayetteville.
Walton passed Mike Wallace for the all-time record for career kickoff return yards at Ole Miss. With 40 kickoff return yards on Saturday, Walton now has 1,429 yards for his career.
Wallace broke Eli Manning’s record for career total offense. (Photo Credit: Bentley Breland)
Quarterback Bo Wallace accounted for 218 yards of total offense against Arkansas. Wallace now has 10,090 career total offensive yards, which moves him past Eli Manning for the top mark in school history. As well, he now stands ninth in SEC history for career total offensive yards.
Point No.4: Defensive players
In spite of the setback against the Razorbacks, several Ole Miss defensive players stood out on Saturday.
Cody Prewitt tackles Razorback RB Williams. (Photo credit: Bentley Breland)
Deterrian Shackelford was a part of 12 tackles and recovered a fumble for the Landshark defense.
Cody Prewitt accounted for 8 tackles and broke up a pass for the Rebels.
Trae Elston recorded 7 tackles, while Senquez Golson and Mike Hilton were in on 6 tackles apiece. Golson, Fadol Brown, and Channing Ward each had a hand in the 2 sacks recorded by Ole Miss, as well.
Point No.5: The Streak
DT Shackelford led the team in tackles Saturday. (Photo Credit: Bentley Breland)
The final postgame point this week is that the streak is alive and well. The Landshark defense created just a single turnover against the Razorbacks, but the fumble recovery by Deterrian Shackelford extends the streak of consecutive games in which Ole Miss has created a turnover to 34 games, the longest streak in the nation.
Jeff Tetrick
Jeff is a college sports fanatic who was able to recognize many D1 team logos by kindergarten. Growing up, Jeff played football, baseball, basketball, and ran track/cross country. Jeff’s love for college sports was expanded while running track/cross country at Indiana University, where he earned a General Education degree and attended every sporting event possible when not running for the Hoosiers. A proud parent and husband, Jeff resides in Oxford. His wife is an Ole Miss graduate, and Jeff has a year of post-graduate studies at Ole Miss under his belt. Jeff and his family can be found at just about any Ole Miss sporting event throughout the year. Jeff follows the idea of God, Family/Friends, and Football as a way of life. Writing about Ole Miss sports plays to Jeff’s love affair with collegiate athletics perfectly!
