Treadwell makes certain No. 19 Ole Miss hangs on
AUBURN, Ala. — With a defender draped over his back, Laquon Treadwell clutched the ball in both hands as he fell to the ground.
This touchdown, and this game, weren’t slipping from the grasp of No. 19 Mississippi and the Rebels’ star receiver.
Treadwell caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Chad Kelly in the fourth quarter and Ole Miss kept its SEC title hopes alive with a 27-19 victory Saturday over Auburn.
“I think every player on our team wanted to make that play,” Treadwell said. “So when you get that opportunity, you’ve got to make it. The team was counting on me. The ball came to me, and I just had to make a play.”
It was even sweeter because Treadwell’s 2014 season ended with a serious leg injury on a pivotal catch and fumble late in a loss to Auburn.
The Rebels (7-2, 4-1 SEC) made two consecutive defensive stands after grabbing the lead. Kelly hit Treadwell in the end zone with just more than 10 minutes left, and the league’s leading receiver held onto it even with cornerback Carlton Davis trying to rip the ball out.
Replay officials reviewed the catch and it stood.
The Rebels defense stood firm, too. The Tigers couldn’t punch it into the end zone after a first down from the 3. Auburn drove across midfield again before failing to convert on fourth down, and Ole Miss ran out all but eight seconds.
Rebels Coach Hugh Freeze wasn’t about to punt the ball away after recent special teams disasters around college football.
“I’ve seen too many bad things happen,” Freeze said.
Auburn (4-4, 1-4) dropped its second consecutive after losing to Arkansas in four overtimes. Backup quarterback Jeremy Johnson was hit as he threw and his Hail Mary attempt fell well short of the end zone on the final play.
The Rebels still control their path in the SEC West. They are the only team to beat No. 7 Alabama and still must play No. 4 LSU.
Kelly completed 33 of 51 passes for 381 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
A hobbled Sean White was 12 of 28 for 258 yards for Auburn, including the first touchdown pass of his career and an interception.
TEXAS A&M 35, SOUTH CAROLINA 28
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — True freshman quarterback Kyler Murray ran for 156 yards and threw for 223 more in his first start as the Aggies (6-2, 3-2 SEC) ended a two-game slide with a victory over South Carolina (3-5, 1-5).
Tra Carson added 122 yards rushing and a touchdown and Donovan Wilson had a 60-yard interception return for the Aggies, who played the first of three consecutive home games.
Brandon Wilds ran for 128 yards and two scores for the Gamecocks in their second game under Shawn Elliott since the resignation of Steve Spurrier. They won Elliott’s debut 19-10 over Vanderbilt two weeks ago before an open date.
TENNESSEE 52, KENTUCKY 21
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Joshua Dobbs accounted for four touchdowns and Tennessee scored on both a kickoff return and punt return Saturday in a rout of Kentucky that continued the Volunteers’ domination in the series.
Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) has won 30 of its past 31 meetings with Kentucky (44, 2-4). The Wildcats’ lone victory during that stretch was a 10-7 decision in 2011.
Dobbs was 16 of 26 for 233 yards with 1 interception and 2 touchdown passes, including a 75-yard pass to Josh Malone that put Tennessee ahead for good late in the second quarter. He also rushed for 51 yards and two scores.
Evan Berry scored on a 100-yard kickoff return, and Cam Sutton reached the end zone on an 84-yard punt return in the third quarter.
(18) HOUSTON 34, VANDERBILT 0
HOUSTON — Greg Ward Jr. threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score to help Houston reach 8-0 for the fourth time in school history and first time since 2011.
Houston forced four turnovers in its first shutout since 2013.
Ward finished 15 of 23 for 221 yards. He had a 5-yard scoring run in the first quarter and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Ayers in the second.
Kyle Shurmur started for Vanderbilt (35) and finished 3 of 11 for just 20 yards. Johnny McCrary didn’t fare much better in relief, finishing 2 of 9 for 24 yards. They combined for three interceptions.
Ralph Webb rushed for 99 yards on 26 carries for the Commodores.