AUSTIN, Texas \u2013 For as poorly as things started for No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night, the Rebels had their chance at a late miracle-come-true.<\/p>\n
Their wish came up about 30 yards short.<\/p>\n
Ole Miss overcame a 21-point halftime deficit against No. 19 Texas on the road, tying the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter on a perfectly placed touchdown pass from sixth-year quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to fifth-year receiver Horatio Fields. Texas quarterback Arch Manning put the Longhorns back in front with a short touchdown run midway through the quarter, and a 33-yard Gianni Spetic field goal with 2:25 put the Longhorns up by 10. Ole Miss kicked a late field goal and recovered an onside kick with 1:20 to play, but Chambliss\u2019 last-second heave to the end zone from 29 yards out was intercepted as the Longhorns defeated the Rebels 34-27 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously disappointed,\u201d Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding said. \u201cI think you have to look back and (ask), did you do everything that you needed to do to give yourself your best shot as players and coaches? And I think all of us are going to look back, we\u2019ll rewatch the tape and wish we\u2019d have done a couple things differently. But there wasn\u2019t this, \u2018Woe\u2019s me, life\u2019s over.\u2019 They know. I told them \u2026 \u2018We control our own destiny.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Ole Miss (5-2, 3-2 SEC) was outgained by Texas (5-2, 2-2) 419-364. Chambliss completed 25 of 52 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. It was the first multi-interception game of Chambliss\u2019 Rebels career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played terrible tonight. And I can\u2019t do that,\u201d Chambliss said. \u201c \u2026 I don\u2019t want to feel this feeling again. I feel like I let my team down tonight, and it\u2019s the worst feeling ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a rocky start for both quarterbacks, who at one point threw interceptions on consecutive plays in the first quarter. The Rebels went three-and-out on their opening drive and watched Texas march 69 yards on their first possession down to the 5-yard line. Senior linebacker Suntarine Perkins broke up Manning\u2019s third-down throw in the end zone, though, forcing the Longhorns to settle for a short field goal. A 36-yard completion to senior receiver Deuce Alexander jumpstarted Ole Miss\u2019 second possession and resulted in a 46-yard field goal from fifth-year kicker Lucas Carneiro.<\/p>\n
A 43-yard catch-and-run from Texas\u2019 Ryan Wingo set up a 2-yard touchdown run from Manning with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter. Manning threw a 50-yard touchdown to Wingo early in the second quarter that put the Rebels in a 17-3 hole.<\/p>\n
A pair of Ole Miss personal fouls and a pass interference in the end zone set Texas up at the 2-yard line, and Michael Terry III\u2019s short touchdown gave the Longhorns a three touchdown advantage less than six minutes into the second quarter. Ole Miss ran a fake punt with junior punter Oscar Bird deep in their own territory, and Bird picked up 17 yards and a much-needed first down. The Rebels got down to Texas 2-yard line, but Chambliss was intercepted on fourth down with 1:37 left in the first half.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving three points in the first half is unacceptable, and I take full responsibility for that,\u201d Chambliss said. \u201cThere\u2019s no excuse for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rebels\u2019 first touchdown of the day came via the defense, as senior defensive end Blake Purchase sacked Manning and caused a fumble that junior end Kam Franklin recovered in the end zone less than two minutes into the third quarter. A roughing the passer and pass interference by Texas on Ole Miss\u2019 next drive offensive possession led to a 6-yard touchdown catch from Fields that made it a seven-point game with 6:46 to play in the third.<\/p>\n
Fields tied the game at 24 with a 27-yard touchdown reception with just under 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Manning threw his second interception of the night to Crawford on a deep-ball try on the next possession, though the Rebels came up empty on their ensuing drive. Texas running back Raleek Brown broke free for a 47-yard gain that led to Manning\u2019s eventual go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run. The Longhorns ran for 120 yards in the second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust communication, from a communication standpoint and execution,\u201d Franklin said. \u201cThat\u2019s pretty much what it was, and just not being together on one court.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carneiro\u2019s 58-yard field-goal try was blocked with 6:21 to play, and another long run from Brown set up a Texas field goal that put the Rebels in a two-score deficit with less than three minutes remaining. Carneiro kicked a 39-yarder with 1:22 to play to make it a one-score game and set up an onside kick attempt, which was recovered by junior Andy Jaffe.<\/p>\n
Ole Miss drove down inside the Texas 30, but Chambliss\u2019 pass as time expired was intercepted in the end zone by Jelani McDonald.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told them there\u2019s a lot of good things we\u2019re going to take from this, and there\u2019s a lot of things that we put on tape that you can\u2019t do versus good football teams, regardless of whether you\u2019re on the road or at home,\u201d Golding said. \u201cLove this group. Think they\u2019re talented, think they\u2019re a good football team. But we have to play better for 60 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ole Miss hosts Auburn at 11:45 a.m. Saturday.<\/p>\n
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