Coaches and players can scheme, plan, and practice to mitigate this unpredictability, but it can never be prevented.
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Ole Miss’ players were reportedly celebrating in the locker room – and a little extra jubilation is understood – stating they were “Alabama state champs” now that they’ve taken down both Alabama and Auburn in 2015. And that’s fine! Admitting that this is a game whose outcomes have an element of chance and fortune is honest and healthy. A few get mad and do things they regret.
“They couldn’t stop us”, he said.
Allen ran for a game-winning 2-point conversion – leaping past an Ole Miss defender at the goal line – to lead Arkansas to an improbable 53-52 overtime victory over the 19th-ranked Rebels on Saturday night. Since 2011, when Arkansas posted a 6-2 SEC mark, the Razorbacks have a 6-22 record against conference competition.
Week in and week out, college football is incredible.
At this point, momentum swung in Arkansas’ favor. Can Arkansas (4-4) kick off a big run to make a big splash in the race? It allows for H-backs, fullbacks, and tight ends (and, in the case of this diagram, the Z receiver), to get momentary separation from defenders. Then, mix in Bret Bielema’s gutsy decision to forego a second overtime and win or lose on one play that was as unlikely as the final outcome.
“If there’s a guy that I would want to see throw a backward pass probably 20 yards in the air in no direction other than the way he’d wanted to throw it, I’d pick Hunter Henry”.
Check out the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss game preview and prediction. But something ridiculous did happen, and it cost the Rebels dearly. Brandon Allen found Drew Morgan for 31-yards and a touchdown on just six plays.
The Razorbacks started the game strong behind the arm of senior quarterback Brandon Allen. He has 12 yards rushing, four carries, no touchdowns. With all that considered, it’s no wonder the odds makers have made the Razorbacks almost a two-touchdown underdog. The team overall has 87 yards receiving so far, 6 catches, one touchdown. LSU had built a mass of them, with a 7-0 record, a No. 2 ranking and the rampaging exploits of running back Leonard Fournette, the Heisman front-runner whose 193 rushing yards per game led the whole nation by a gaping 45. Arkansas scored on a nine-yard pass to Morgan, and got ready to go for two to win the ball game.
The defense showed promise in limiting Texas A&M to 192 yards of offense in a 23-3 win on October 24 and only giving up one touchdown against Auburn in a 27-19 road win a week later.
Even if none of that comes to be, Chad Kelly’s value to this offense can not be emphasized enough. Now quarterback Chad Kelly and the Rebels look to work their way back into the national ranking conversation.
Allen was just as good, maybe better.
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Ole Miss is now tied with Alabama and a half-game behind LSU at 4-1 in SEC play, and will face the Tigers on November 21. That’s just how sobering a loss like yesterday’s can be.
