FAYETTEVILLE -- The 67 points generally bantered about Fayetteville last week as the over-under for the Arkansas vs. Mississippi game didn't reach.
Surprising, that, considering last year's 53-52 overtime shootout that Arkansas won in Oxford, Miss.
Arkansas' defense, offense and kicking game assured Saturday's under precluding the over. All did their parts securing the then-No. 22, now No. 17 Razorbacks' 34-30 homecoming SEC West victory over the 12th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels Saturday night before an announced 73,786 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Other than quarterback Austin Allen's interception setting up Ole Miss' last touchdown, the Arkansas offense also provided excellent defense against the Ole Miss offense.
Their running game stifled in 45-24 and 49-30 SEC West losses to No. 6 undefeated Texas A&M and No. 1 undefeated Alabama, the Razorbacks rushed for 200 yards on Ole Miss while Allen passed for 229. That balance enabled Arkansas controlling the ball 40:38 of the game's 60 minutes.
Ole Miss' rushing defense isn't up to the defensively loaded All-American standards of Alabama and Texas A&M.
But its good enough that the Hogs, behind running backs Rawleigh Williams and Devwah Whaley and a previously maligned offensive line, proved they can run over the SEC defensively mortal short of Alabama and Texas A&M.
Sophomore Williams' 785 rushing yards and Allen's 1,861 passing yards in six games now lead the SEC.
Arkansas confidence should run renewed into Saturday's SEC game at Auburn.
Offensively, Coach Hugh Freeze's Rebels are "explosive," Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said. Their prior SEC games prove it, a 48-43 loss to Alabama and 45-14 march over Georgia.
Exceptionally talented Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly did much in the mere 19:22 that Arkansas allotted him passing and running the Rebels to 30 points.
But Kelly couldn't do enough, even with Arkansas penalties first-time minimizing and second-time negating Arkansas interceptions
Arkansas' defensive line, invisible against Alabama, excelled.
Junior linebacker Dwayne Eugene, starting in place of injured fixture Dre Greenlaw, played well in his debut.
Arkansas' safety positions, the most criticized post Texas A&M and post Alabama, made some of the game's biggest plays. Junior free safety Josh Liddell made nine tackles, broke up a pass and forced a fumble.
Sophomore strong safety Santos Ramirez had a pass breakup and touchdown-saving tackle among four stops, the last blasting Kelly to fumble fourth down short of a first down on Ole Miss' last play.
No Arkansas defender's hands proved more vital than Toby Baker's foot. The punter deserved the Crip Hall Award received as Arkansas' outstanding senior in the homecoming game. Either turning the field over or pooching the Rebels back to their doorstep, Baker placed four of his five punts inside the 20 plus a touchback just missed getting downed at the one.
Bielema knew it would take a defensive-offensive-kicking game cooperative to keep a great Ole Miss offense below its high normal.
The Razorbacks cooperated for their happy homecoming.
Sports on 10/17/2016