The wait was worth it for Ole Miss fans on Saturday night as the Rebels came out victorious over LSU 32-24 in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Jaylon Braxton’s pick in the end zone with a minute to go will be one that is never forgotten in Oxford. It was LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s only interception and proved to be the most costly. Ole Miss now has a 14 game home winning streak, which is the second longest active streak in the nation.
The No. 8 Rebels (3-0, 1-0) are undefeated after three games for the
sixth straight year, and this win clearly meant a lot to the fans and players coming against former head coach Lane Kiffin. Months of passive aggressive comments and down right dastardly behind closed door moves between these two programs was finally settled on the field. No pro players but maybe LSU needed them.
Trinidad Chambliss had a brilliant outing with 33/48 passing for 363 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a rushing TD that turned out to be the game winner. The senior QB had to step up his game with the absence of running back Kewan Lacy who came out of the game with an upper body injury. Lacy did have nine carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.
The first half was like a script out of a movie though as Ole Miss raced out to a 17-0 lead after some early jitters from both teams. Chambliss connected with Traylon Ray time and again for the senior WR to pile up seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. Deuce Alexander added a receiving TD of his own with less than 10 seconds left in the first half for a 24-7 Ole Miss lead at the break.
The third quarter was buns as the kids say nowadays. LSU closed the gap to 24-21 with its defense finally showing up to create some long down and distance and creating a turnover. It did look like to me on replay that if Chambliss had not been hit on his one interception that Alexander was wide open behind the LSU defense, but nonetheless his one miscue did not change the outcome.
There is just something different about Chambliss however when it comes to the fourth quarter. A long missed field goal by Lucas Carneiro was surprising as was the long drive response from LSU to tie the game at 24-24. But Chambliss remained unflappable commanding another fourth quarter game winning drive.
This was a win wrapped in a lot of emotions, but the execution and plan by Pete Golding was pretty damn good. It wasn’t perfect as he well knows, but his 5-1 early record as a head coach is speaking pretty strongly he can win with the program that has been built.
As Kiffin sulked off the field at the end to the Ole Miss band playing “Neck”, a few players and coaches approached him and his cavalcade of state troopers. There is no love lost here, indeed the love is gone, and now Ole Miss can move on from one era to another.
Next up for Ole Miss is a trip to Gainesville and a match against the Florida Gators. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT. Hotty F***ing Toddy, cheers!
