No. 9 Alabama Football Escapes No. 11 Ole Miss, 30-24

Once again, the Crimson Tide victory came in the final seconds after the defense put an end to the Rebels' final drive.

Author:
Joey Blackwell
Updated:
Nov 12, 2022 9:11 PM EST
Original:
Nov 12, 2022

In this story:

OXFORD, Miss. — For the fifth time this season, the Alabama Crimson Tide's game came down to the final seconds. At No. 11 Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon, a final defensive stand by the Crimson Tide thwarted the Rebels from making a last-second victory, giving Alabama a 30-24 victory.

After a 49-yard field goal by Crimson Tide placekicker Will Reichard put Alabama up by six points with 2:23 left to play in the game, Ole Miss responded by stringing together a seven play, 55-yard drive that put the Rebels on the 20-yard line of Alabama with under a minute left to play.

On 4th and 15, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart's pass fell incomplete, giving the Crimson Tide the ball with 0:46 seconds left. Alabama was then able to kneel the ball to seal the victory.

To put it bluntly, the first half was dreadful for the Alabama offense. Through the first two quarters, the Crimson Tide amassed just 119 total offensive yards — 93 through the air and just 26 on the ground. Quarterback Bryce Young finished the first half having gone 10-of-14 with two touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Jase McClellan finished the first 30 minutes of the game leading the Crimson Tide with just 17 rushing yards off five carries.

Ole Miss had much better success in the first half, totaling 237 yards. Dart completed 8-of-15 passes for 113 yards, but no touchdowns. Both of the Rebels touchdowns came courtesy of running back Quinshon Judkins, who recorded two along with 61 rushing yards off 14 carries.

Despite the much better success on offense for the Rebels, though, the Crimson Tide trailed just 17-14 at halftime.

The second half was far more productive for Alabama. The Crimson Tide recorded 198 total yards, with running back Jase McClellan taking over for Gibbs, who twisted his ankle in the second quarter. McClellan finished the game with 84 yards off 19 carries — by far the best rusher of the night for Alabama.

The Crimson Tide's defense also stood firm, giving up just one lone touchdown over the final 30 minutes of play.

With the win, Alabama rises to 8-2 on the season and is 5-2 in SEC play. Ole Miss falls to 8-2 on the season and is now 4-2 in the conference. Up next, the Crimson Tide returns home to Bryant-Denny Stadium to take on Austin Peay (11 a.m. CT, SEC Network+).

How it Happened:

(Plays are listed in ascending order)

Fourth Quarter

FINAL: Alabama 30, Ole Miss 24

Alabama kneels out the game. Ball Game.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: On 4th and 16 on the UA 20, Dart's pass falls incomplete. Alabama takes possession on its own 20-yard line.

Ole Miss has driven all the way down to the UA 20.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 9 plays, 28 yards, 4:04 T.O.P.

FIELD GOAL Alabama: Alabama’s drive resulted in a field goal by Reichard. 30-24 Alabama with less than three minutes to go.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Ole Miss goes for it on fourth down, Dart is tackled at the line of scrimmage. Alabama will take over.

On 3rd and 8 at the UA 41, Dart's pass is batted down incomplete.

On 3rd and 1 at the UA 49, Judkins rushes up the middle for a six-yard gain. 1st and 10.

Dart finds Mingo for a 19-yard reception. 1st and 10 at the Rebels 42.

Burnip's punt is fair-caught at the Ole Miss 23-yard line. 1st and 10 Rebels.

On 3rd and 16, Young's pass is batted down incomplete. Alabama will have to punt.

Young is sacked for a loss of six yards. 2nd and 16.

McKinstry fair-caught the punt at the UA 41. 1st and 10 Alabama.

Dart is sacked for a loss of three. 4th and 14, and the Rebels will punt.

Judkins rushes up the middle for a gain of four. 3rd and 11.

Brian Branch tackles Judkins for a loss of five yards. 2nd and 15.

A touchback places Ole Miss at its own 25-yard line. 1st and 10 Rebels.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 8 plays, 44 yards, 2:52 T.O.P.

FIELD GOAL Alabama: Reichard hits a 23-yard attempt, and the Crimson Tide takes its first lead of the game. Alabama 30, Ole Miss 27 with 11:19 left to play in the game.

Another incompletion, and Alabama will attempt a field goal.

Timeout Alabama. That is its first timeout of the half.

Incomplete pass by Young. 3rd and Goal at the 5.

Timeout for an injured player. After the break, it'll be 2nd and Goal at the UA 5-yard line.

McClellan rushes for 12 yards. 1st and Goal at the 8.

Burton makes a nine-yard reception. On the next play, McClellan rushes for 11 yards. 1st and 10 at the Ole Miss 31.

A rough punt by Ole Miss places the ball at its own 49. It'll be Alabama's ball at midfield to start the drive.

On 3rd and 11 at the Rebels 24, Dart is taken down for no gain and Ole Miss will have to punt.

Third Quarter

End of the Third Quarter: Alabama 24, Ole Miss 24

A holding call backs up Ole Miss. 1st and 11 at the Rebels 24.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 14 plays, 75 yards, 6:05 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Alabama: On 3rd and Goal at the 5, Young finds Brooks sprinting across the end zone and hits them in the corner for the score. The extra point is good. Alabama 24, Ole Miss 24 with 1:23 left to play in the third quarter.

Kobe Prentice makes a seven-yard reception to give Alabama a 1st and Goal at the Ole Miss 6.

Emil Ekiyor is down on the field with an apparent injury.

McClellan powers his way forward 12 yards. 1st and 10 at the 20.

Young found Latu for enough yardage for a first down, but a holding call on the Crimson Tide backs the offense up. 1st and 20 Alabama at the Ole Miss 42.

Back-to-back carries by Roydell Williams is enough for another first down. 1st and 10 Crimson Tide at the Ole Miss 32. There are two Rebels down on the play.

On 3rd and 3 at the UA 32, Law picks up his second reception in a row for nine yards and the first down.

A touchback will place Alabama at its own 25 to start its drive.

Ole Miss Scoring Drive Summary: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:03 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Ole Miss: Dart completes a 3-yard pass to Mingo. The extra point is good. Ole Miss 24, Alabama 17 with 7:27 left in the third quarter.

Ole Miss picks up another first down off of a 2-yard rush by Judkins. It'll be 1st and Goal at the UA 8-yard line.

Turner sacked Dart, but clung to his face mask in the process. 1st and 10 Ole Miss at the UA 30.

Will Anderson Jr. sacks Dart for a loss of seven yards. 3rd and 18.

On 2nd and 20, Dart completes a pass up the middle to Heath for 37 yards. 1st and 10 at the UA 37.

On 1st and 10 at the 36, a holding call backs up Ole Miss 10 yards. It'll be 1st and 20 at the Rebels' own 26.

Ole Miss will begin its drive on its won 25 after a touchback.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 7 plays, 54 yards, 2:29 T.O.P.

FIELD GOAL Alabama: Reichard hits a 39-yard field goal, and we are tied. Alabama 17, Ole Miss 17 with 12:31 left in the third quarter.

On 3rd and 6, Young's pass falls incomplete, intended for Roydell Williams.

Young dodges a sack, then completes a pass to Brooks for 35 yards. 1st and 10 Alabama at the Ole Miss 25.

On 1st and 10, Young finds Burton for a gain of 14 yards and a 1st down.

The Crimson Tide will begin its drive on its own 25-yard line after a touchback.

Alabama will get the ball to start the second half.

Halftime Notes

Alabama recorded just 119 total offensive yards in the first half, with 93 of those yards coming through the air and just 26 on the ground.

Young completed 10-of-14 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

McClellan is Alabama's leading rusher at the half with 17 yard off five carries. Gibbs has six rushes for just three yards.

Latu and Earle are tied for the most receptions with three apiece, but Latu leads in yardage with 38.

On defense, Hellams leads the Crimson Tide with eight tackles, with Battle right behind him with seven. Arnold is in third with six tackles on the afternoon. Alabama recorded no sacks and just one tackle for loss in the first half.

Second Quarter

Halftime: Ole Miss 17, Alabama 14

Ole Miss rushes the ball up the middle and runs the clock out. Halftime.

Ole Miss returned the kickoff out to its own 15. 1st and 10 Rebels with 0:04 left to go in the first half.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:15 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Alabama: On 3rd and Goal at the 8, Young finds Latu in the end zone. The extra point is good. Ole Miss 17, Alabama 14 with 0:08 left to play in the first half.

On 3rd and Goal at the 3, a delay of game penalty pushes Alabama back five yards.

On 3rd and 3 at the 16, Young scrambles forward for a 13-yard gain. 1st and Goal at the 3 for Alabama.

FUMBLE: Replay ruled that Evans fumbled, with Terrion Arnold in on the recovery. Alabama takes over at the Ole Miss 23-yard-line.

Evans carried the ball five yards and was called down, but officials are reviewing a potential fumble on the play.

Young is sacked on 3rd down for a loss of 12 yards, and Alabama will have to punt. Ole Miss calls for the fair catch, and the Rebels will begin its drive on its on 16-yard line. There is 2:52 left to go in the first half.

Brooks returned the kickoff to the UA 39. 1st and 10 Alabama.

Ole Miss Scoring Drive Summary: 7 plays, 51 yards, 2:43 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Ole Miss: Judkins rushed out of the wildcat formation one yard for the score. The extra point is good. Ole Miss 17, Alabama 7 with 5:09 left in the first half.

Another play, another first down for the Rebels. It's 1st and Goal at the 5-yard line for Ole Miss.

Arnold was called for pass interference, the first penalty for the Crimson Tide on the afternoon. 1st and 10 Rebels at the UA 36.

FUMBLE: On the first play from scrimmage, Young connects with Earle on a pass. Earle lost control of the football at the Ole Miss 49, recovered by the Rebels. 1st and 10 Ole Miss at midfield.

The Rebels have their first three-and-out of the game. The punt bounces around and ultimately ends up at the UA 41. 1st and 10 Alabama.

Ole Miss will start its drive at its own 15-yard line.

Alabama Scoring Drive Summary: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:06 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Alabama: Young passes to Burton for a 19-yard score. The extra point by Will Reichard is good. Ole Miss 10, Alabama 7 with 8:55 left to play in the first half.

Young connects with tight end Cameron Latu for a gain of 15 yards. A personal foul adds 15 more yards to the end of the play (hands to the face, Ole Miss). 1st and 10 Alabama at the Ole Miss 19.

Jase McClellan rushes forward for six yards and a first down. 1st and 10 at UA 47.

Young completes a pass to JoJo Earle for a 10-yard gain and a first down.

Kool-Aid McKinstry returns the kickoff four yards to the UA 20. 1st and 10 Alabama.

Ole Miss Scoring Drive Summary: 9 plays, 32 yards, 2:52 T.O.P.

FIELD GOAL Ole Miss: Jonathan Cruz nails a 22-yard field goal. Ole Miss 10, Alabama 0 with 12:07 left to play in the second quarter.

Ole Miss is stopped on third down and will be forced to kick a field goal.

On 3rd and 4, Dart finds Mingo for a 6-yard completion and a first down. 1st and Goal at the 7.

Judkins passes the football, finds Heath for a 16-yard gain. 1st and 10 at the UA 19.

First Quarter

End of the First Quarter: Ole Miss 7, Alabama 0

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: On 4th and 1, Young is stopped short of the line to gain. The first quarter is in the books. After the break, Ole Miss will begin its drive at the UA 36.

On 3rd and 15, Young scrambles 14 yards to make it 4th and 1 at the UA 44.

On 2nd down, Gibbs is tackled in the backfield for a loss of five yards. 3rd and 15.

Brooks fields the kickoff at the 13 and rushes forward to the 27-yard line. 1st and 10 Crimson Tide.

Ole Miss Scoring Drive Summary: 11 plays, 68 yards, 4:20 T.O.P.

TOUCHDOWN Ole Miss: Judkins rushes into the end zone on 3rd down for the 1-yard touchdown. The extra point is good. Ole Miss 7, Alabama 0.

Dart rushes forward on 3rd and 6 and is down at the 1 for a 1st and Goal. However, a false start on the next play will make it 1st and Goal at the UA 6.

Judkins rushes around the end for a gain of 12 yards. 1st and 10 at the UA 11.

Dart connects with Malik Heath, who makes a beautiful catch for a gain of 33 yards. 1st down Rebels at the UA 26.

On 3rd and 10, Young's pass bounces off the hands of Ja'Corey Brooks and Alabama is forced to punt again. Burnip's punt was fair-caught at the 32-yard line. 1st and 10 Ole Miss.

On 3rd and 10, Alabama gets away with a PI non-call. Ole Miss punted on 4th down, and the Crimson Tide will take over on its own 28-yard line. 1st and 10 Alabama.

Ole Miss WR Jordan Watkins was injured while attempting to make a catch on the Alabama sideline. The catch was ruled out-of-bounds. Watkins was helped off the field and headed into the Rebels medical tent.

James Burnip's punt was fair-caught at the Ole Miss 32.

On 3rd and 8 from the UA 31, Young is sacked for a loss of nine yards. The Crimson Tide is forced to punt.

Alabama picks up a 1st down on a 15-yard completion from Young to Latu. 1st and 10 at the UA 29.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Alabama stops Evans on 4th and 2. The Crimson Tide takes over at its own 12-yard line.

A nice stop by Terrion Arnold prevents Dart from crossing the line to gain on third down.

Ricks just exited the tent and headed to the locker room with the training staff.

Another first down as Quinshon Judkins rushes for seven yards.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart rushes to the right for a gain of 16 yards. First down Rebels, ball on the Alabama 42.

Ricks is escorted off the field and heads straight to the medical tent.

Ole Miss picks up a first down with a 20-yard passing play. Alabama safety Eli Ricks is injured on the play. 1st and 10 Rebels at the Ole Miss 42.

Ole Miss fields the kickoff at the 2-yard line and returns it to the 22. 1st and 10 Rebels.

Pregame

Alabama won the toss and will defer to the second half. The Rebels will receive the kickoff and will drive from south to north.

For those keeping up, LSU escaped Arkansas with a 13-10 win, ending Alabama's SEC Championship chances. Should Ole Miss win today, it will still be in the running. However, if the Crimson Tide beats the Rebels, then the Tigers will clinch the SEC West.

Today's officials:

Referee: Matt Loeffler
Umpire: Stan Weihe
Linesman: Nicholas Theriot
Line Judge: Michael Shirey
Back Judge: Tom Fimmen
Field Judge: Antonio Smith
Side Judge: Jesse Dupuy
Center Judge: Chris Garner

Both teams have cleared the field as we are just over 22 minutes away from kickoff.

Terrion Arnold is in uniform for Alabama after missing last week's game at LSU due to the flu.

Today's captains for the Crimson Tide: QB Bryce Young, DB Jordan Battle and OLB Will Anderson Jr. The full team is now out on the field for warmups.

They have started streaming the Arkansas/LSU game on the jumbotrons inside the stadium. Arkansas just stopped LSU on 4th down to put the Razorbacks in good field position down 3 points with just over six minutes left, and the stadium erupted. Both teams' fanbases want to see Arkansas win to keep their SEC hopes alive.

The Alabama specialists are now on the field.

If you're looking for something to watch ahead of the Alabama/Ole Miss game, check out LSU at Arkansas on ESPN. The Tigers lead the Razorbacks 13-10 in the 4th quarter. Should LSU win, the Tigers will clinch the SEC West and Alabama will have been officially eliminated from SEC Championship Game contention.

Jase McClellan and Jahmyr Gibbs have also joined the no-leggings club of players on the field during warmups.

It is now 37 degrees inside the stadium, according to this reporter's favorite weather app.

Bryce Young and a wide variety of skill players have taken the field to warm up. While most are sporting leggings and hoodies to stay warm, Byron Young has opted to wear shorts and a short-sleeve shirt. Roydell Williams is wearing shorts, but wore the hoodie like the rest of his teammates.

Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin (and most importantly, Juice Kiffin) have all arrived at the stadium. Saban just did his typical pregame walk around the field before taking part in an interview.

Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT. It is currently 42 degrees Fahrenheit and it is slated to be 44 degrees at kickoff. Regardless, it's going to be a cold one in Oxford.