Ole Miss outscores Arkansas for 52-51 win

OXFORD — Matt Corral promised it would be different this time against No. 13 Arkansas.

The Ole Miss quarterback, who threw six interceptions last year against the Razorbacks, delivered, leading the Rebels to a wild victory that was sealed by the defense.

Sam Williams and Tavius Robinson pressured Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson on a potential game-winning 2-point conversion and No. 17 Ole Miss held on 52-51 Saturday after allowing a touchdown on the final play of regulation.

Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) scored on a 9-yard pass from Jefferson to Warren Thompson as time expired to pull within a point and decided to go for the win.

Jefferson rolled right and under extended pressure from Williams and Robinson, overthrew Treylon Burks in the end zone.

“However it works, it’s a win,” Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin said. “Obviously, it’s a huge play at the end. Offensively, we did well. I’ve been in games like this before and it’s a lot better when you win.”

Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1) took the lead with 1:07 remaining as Corral threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Sanders, accompanied by a soaring clipboard flip by a trailing Kiffin, racing down the home sideline.

Arkansas answered with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to set up the decisive 2-point play.

“We had three options on the two-point play,” Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said. “We could pitch, pass or run and we felt confident. They made the play.”

The frantic final two minutes capped an overwhelming offensive performance by both teams with 1,287 total yards and 14 touchdowns.

Mississippi Valley State 20, Bethune-cookman 14

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Caleb Johnson ran for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to push Mississippi Valley State past winless Bethune-cookman.

The Delta Devils (2-3, 1-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) snapped a fourgame losing streak to Bethune-cookman (0-6, 0-2).

Johnson bulled in from the 1 to cap a 14-play, 80yard drive to start the fourth quarter. The Delta Devils’ Andrew Bloodsaw picked off a Devin Black pass, and on the next play Johnson ran for a 14-yard touchdown with 9:14 remaining.

Johnson finished with 96 yards on 22 caries. Jalani Eason had 81 yards rushing and 137 yards passing that included a 22-yard touchdown pass to Datavious Porter in the first quarter.

Black was 18-of-30 passing for 307 yards, and he threw two touchdown passes in the first half for the Wildcats.

Jackson State 61, Alabama A&M 15

NORMAL, Ala. — Shedeur Sanders passed for 249 yards and four touchdowns, Santee Marshall ran for 122 yards and two scores and James Houston IV set the tone as Jackson State romped to a victory over Alabama A&M in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

Houston delivered the first score when he sacked

Aqeel Glass — forcing a fumble that he returned 67 yards for a TD just 3:36 into the game. A 2-yard scoring run by JD Martin and Sanders’ 6-yard TD toss to Joshua Lanier had the Tigers (4-1, 2-0) leading 20-0 after one quarter. Glass pulled the Bulldogs (3-2, 1-2) within 20-7 with a 10-yard TD toss to Zabrian Moore, but Sanders put the game out of reach with a 37-yard scoring strike to Trevonte Rucker on the ensuing drive and a 12-yard TD toss to Warren Newman with 26 seconds left in the half for a 33-7 lead.

Sanders hit Malachi Wideman for a 20-yard score before scoring on a 29-yard run. Marshall’s 53yard scoring run capped a 21-point third quarter for Jackson State. Sanders completed 17 of 24 passes as the Tigers piled up 496 yards on offense.

Glass completed 26 of 40 passes for 293 yards and two TDS. Odieu Hiliaire had 10 catches for 117 yards and a score. The Bulldogs rushed for only eight yards on 32 carries. Glass had 10 totes for minus-47 yards.

Alcorn State 24, Grambliing 20

Lecharles Pringle caught a pair of touchdown passes from Felix Harper as Alcorn State built an early lead and defeated Grambling.

Harper was 15 of 23 for 150 yards passing for the Braves (3-2, 2-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) and gained another 23 yards on the ground including a 14-yard touchdown run.

Pringle made touchdown catches of 45 and 13 yards, the first put Alcorn State up 7-0 and the latter made it 21-3 early in the second quarter. In between, Harper scored on a 14-yard keeper.

Grambling (2-4, 1-2) freshman Noah Bodden, who threw for three touchdowns a week earlier, was limited to 10 of 27 passing for 105 yards with a TD and an interception. Aldon Clark came on late in relief and went 5-for-5 for 67 yards with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Greg White for the final score.

Grambling had three more drives but they ended with a punt, a fumble and an interception.

UTEP 26, Southern Miss 13

HATTIESBURG — Breon Heyward scooped up a fumble and raced 53 yards for a touchdown to spark UTEP to a 26-13 win over Southern Mississippi on Saturday night.

Ronald Awatt ran for 159 yards and a touchdown and Jacob Cowing broke free for a 53-yard touchdown to give UTEP a 14-7 halftime advantage.

Jake Lange threw a 31yard touchdown pass to Jason Brownlee in the first quarter to get the Golden Eagles even at 7-7, but had the ball stripped early in the third quarter and Heyward converted to put the Miners up, 21-7.

Awatt had 18 carries and scored the game’s first touchdown on a 17-yard run five minutes into the game. Deion Hankins carried 13 times for 46 yards for UTEP (5-1, 2-0 Conference USA).

Lange was 20 of 31 for 239 yards passing and threw two touchdowns, but was picked off once and sacked five times. The Golden Eagles (1-5, 0-2) ran the ball 32 times but managed just 15 yards.

For the first time in 17 days, Mississippi State’s soccer team is back on the road.

The Bulldogs will make the drive to Alabama this morning for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Crimson Tide on SEC Network+.

The Bulldogs (3-5-3, 1-3-1 SEC) and Crimson Tide (7-70, 2-3-0 SEC) have gone to overtime in three of their last four meetings. In that span, MSU has the only regulation victory while Alabama has won two in extra time. The teams tied last year thanks to a Bulldog goal from Hailey Farrington-bentil with one second remaining in regulation.

“We are excited to get the chance to bounce back against a talented Alabama team,” MSU head coach James Armstrong said. “This team continues to embrace the process, and we are working hard to improve daily.”

The matchup will feature two of the Southeastern Conference’s Players of the Week. Ally Perry was chosen the Freshman of the Week after she assisted on State’s game-winning goal against Kentucky. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Reyna Reyes was the Co-offensive Player of the Week after scoring the game-winner against then-no. 24 LSU.

State is coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 22 Auburn after conceding in the 85th minute against the Tigers. Alabama took a 3-1 loss at No. 7 Arkansas on Thursday night. Just two points separate the two programs in the SEC standings, with Alabama holding six points, including three in the division, and MSU sitting on four points overall.

Today’s game is Alabama’s annual Power of Pink match, an Alabama Athletics initiative started by former gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson in 2004 to help raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

The Bulldogs remain on the road next Friday when they travel to No. 12 Tennessee (11-1-0, 4-1-0 SEC). Kickoff in that match is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

Braves blank Brewers 3-0

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Max Fried says his strategy in pressure situations is to avoid making too much of the moment.

The approach that worked so well for the Atlanta Braves lefthander in the regular season also is paying dividends in the playoffs.

Fried pitched six sharp innings and Atlanta’s bullpen held on after manager Brian Snitker’s quick hook, sending the Braves over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 Saturday to tie their NL Division Series at a game apiece.

The best-of-five series heads to Atlanta for Game 3 on Monday. “He was phenomenal — all you could ask for,” said Atlanta’s Austin Riley, who homered in the sixth inning. “He came out, pounded the zone. He’s been doing that since the All-star break.” Once Fried was pulled, it got more dicey for the Braves.

The Brewers brought the tying run to the plate against Atlanta’s bullpen in each of the last three innings but couldn’t get a key hit. They couldn’t do much of anything against Fried, who has allowed just one earned run over 29 innings in his last four starts.

Fried struck out nine, gave up three hits and didn’t walk anybody. The Brewers didn’t get a runner in scoring position until Willy Adames hit a two-out double in the sixth, and Fried responded by striking out Eduardo Escobar.

“He’s just a really good pitcher, executing a lot of pitches,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It spells a tough night for the offense.”

Fried went 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA over his last 11 regular-season starts while pitching his best down the stretch.