Ole Miss hangs on to defeat Southeastern Louisiana

Despite playing it close for three quarters, the Ole Miss Rebels broke away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Southeastern Louisiana Lions, 40-29.

The Rebels and Lions jostled back and forth for much of the game before the final quarter. In fact, the Lions got to as close as three points at one point in the early goings and then five points late in the third quarter. But thanks to two field goals by Luke Logan, including one with 39 ticks remaining, the Rebs were able to celebrate in Oxford on Saturday.

Jerrion Ealy was responsible for two of Ole Miss’ scores in the first half. Ealy scored on a 94-yard kickoff return with 6:33 to go in the first quarter. Then, Ealy rushed for a 30-yard score at 12:28 in the second to make it 20-10 in favor of the Rebs. This after Elijah Moore scored a touchdown in the first quarter, thanks to a throw by Matt Corral.

Marcus Cooper, SLU’s running back, scored on the previous possession to make it 13-10 before Ealy’s 30-yard rushing TD. Devonte Williams would then score to make it 20-17 and that would be the last score of the first half.

In the second half, Ole Miss scored with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. This score came from Jason Pellerin, who caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Corral. Scottie Phillips then rushed for a 27-yard touchdown with 10:27 to go in the third quarter.

But then, the Lions scored 12 unanswered points. The first batch of points came from a receiving touchdown by Juwan Petit-Frere. Then, Bransen Schwebel scored on a touchdown pass from Chason Virgil. These TDs, though, were followed up by a missed extra point and a missed pass by Virgil, which put them in an incredibly difficult bind that they would not be able to emerge from.

Phillips led the team in rushing on Saturday with 103 yards on 26 carries. Ealy ran for 95 yards and only needed nine carries to get there, good for a YPC of 10.6. Corral, meanwhile, was awfully effective throwing the ball. He went 21-for-30 with 239 yards, with two scores and no interceptions. Moore led the way in receiving with seven receptions for 88 yards and the one score. 10 Rebel receivers caught at least one reception.

Ole Miss will now be challenged by the California Golden Bears, who’ll come to Oxford next week.