Rebels sniff out, snuff out Hogs’ razzle-dazzle try
OXFORD, Miss. — Arkansas finally had some momentum and a chance to grab a second-half lead for the first time in six SEC games this season.
The Razorbacks had a first-and-10 at the Ole Miss 39 early in the third quarter on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and trailed by three points.
Then Arkansas tried a halfback pass with Jonathan Williams that backfired.
Ole Miss defensive ends Lavon Hooks and Channing Ward dropped Williams for a 9-yard loss, the Razorbacks wound up punting. The Rebels scored touchdowns on their next two possessions and went to win 34-24.
The play started with Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen pitching the ball to Williams, who was supposed to pass it back to Allen.
But Williams didn’t have a chance to get off a pass before the Rebels got to him.
Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney calls the plays from the press box, but Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema has approval and veto power.
“I don’t second-guess any calls,” Bielema said. “You make the call. You make it, you live with it or die with it.
“Obviously, we didn’t have the execution. If it hits, you’re going to be happy.”
The Rebels weren’t fooled by the call. Williams had completed 1 of 3 passes coming into this game, including a 21-yard touchdown to tight end Hunter Henry against Rutgers.
“We practiced that all week, the tricks,” Ole Miss sophomore linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche said. “They don’t have anything to lose, so we were aware of that, and we weren’t surprised when they went for that, and we were able to stop it before it got going.”
Rebels Coach Hugh Freeze said a halfback pass play was the final thing the defense worked on Friday night at the team hotel.
“I thought that was a critical play,” Freeze said. “They had some momentum at that point.”
Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, who held the same position at Arkansas and was fired after the 2004 season, said the Rebels didn’t have to check into a scheme to stop the play.
“Our guys recognized what was coming on it, and they just fit it,” Wommack said. “We didn’t have a particular call.
“They just recognized what was happening with the
“We practiced that all week, the tricks. They don’t have anything to lose, so we were aware of that, and we weren’t surprised when they went for that, and we were able to stop it before it got going.” — Ole Miss sophomore linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche
formation, and we were fortunate to make a good play.”
Allen said that a Rebels blitz off the edge caused Williams to stop before he was engulfed by defenders.
“It’s kind of hit or miss with those kind of things,” Allen said. “It could have been a huge play. It could have been a negative play.
“There’s some chances you’ve kind of got to take like that. We kind of missed on that one. It happens.”