Rebels stomp slumping Tigers
OXFORD, Miss. - Chad Kelly threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 25 Mississippi over No. 17 LSU 38-17 on Saturday night.
Ole Miss (8-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference, No. 22 CFP) jumped out to a 24-0 by late in the second quarter and dominated for most of the game.
Kelly completed 19 of 34 passes and also ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
LSU (7-3, 4-3, No. 15 CFP), which has lost three straight games for the first time since 1999, rallied in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 24-17, but the Rebels responded with two quick touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
LSU star running back Leonard Fournette had a decent day, with 108 yards rushing on 25 carries, but his presence was mostly neutralized after the Tigers fell into an early hole and had to throw to try and score points quickly.
Brandon Harris completed 26 of 51 passes for a career-high 324 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The 26 completions and 51 attempts were also career highs.
No. 3 Alabama 56 Charleston Southern 6
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Cyrus Jones returned two punts for touchdowns and Derrick Henry also scored twice as No. 3 Alabama romped past Charleston Southern.
The Crimson Tide (10-1, No. 2 CFP) led 49-0 by halftime against the Buccaneers (9-2), who are bound for the FCS playoffs. Alabama is hoping to join them in the FBS version and can clinch an SEC West title with a win next week at Auburn.
Jones scored on returns of 43 and 72 yards. He’s the only Alabama player to score twice on punt returns, according to school records dating to 1944. He’s also the first Tide player to have touchdowns on punt returns in consecutive games.
Henry tied Trent Richardson’s Alabama single-season record of 21 touchdowns before sitting out the second half. He had nine carries for 68 yards
No. 8 Florida 20 Fla. Atlantic 14, OT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. —- Treon Harris threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jake McGee in overtime to lift Florida past Florida Atlantic.
The Gators (10-1, No. 8 CFP) were favored by more than 30 points, but were sluggish the whole game. In overtime, Florida scored on its third play but the extra-point attempt was blocked.
Florida Atlantic (2-9) had a first-and-goal at the nine. A sack and three incompletions in the end zone ended the Owls’ upset bid.
The shaky win enabled Jim McElwain to become the first Florida coach to win 10 games in his first season with the school.
Citadel 23, S. Carolina 22
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Citadel running back who scored the deciding touchdown against South Carolina used to sell peanuts during Gamecocks’ games in high school. The kicker who kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal in the fourth quarter is prepping for an Army career just like his grandfathers.
Now both are part of the lore for the South Carolina’s military college.
Running back Tyler Renew and kicker Eric Goins helped the Southern Conference Bulldogs (8-3) to a stunning win Saturday over South Carolina (3-8) of the Southeastern Conference.
“Most of my kids aren’t going to play in the NFL. Most of my kids are going to be the leaders of our country,” Citadel coach Mike Houston said.
The Citadel stuck to its triple-option attack even as it sputtered in the middle of the game. Facing a third-and-1 with just over six minutes to go, the Gamecocks overcommitted. Citadel quarterback Dominique Allen changed the play, sending Renew outside where he ran 56 yards nearly untouched for the final margin.
Renew was selling peanuts at Williams-Brice Stadium during perhaps South Carolina’s finest football moment with an upset of No. 1 Alabama in 2010. His 174 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries were a big part of the lowest point for South Carolina fans since going 0-11 in 2000.
OT: Ark.-Pine Bluff 25 Mississippi Valley 19
TTA BENA, Miss. — Brian Handley had 22 carries for 98 yards and his 8-yard touchdown run in overtime was the game-winning score as Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Mississippi Valley State for its first conference win of the season.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2-9, 1-8 Southwestern Athletic Conference) won the coin toss and elected to play defense. The Golden Lions forced a rushing loss of seven yards and had an 11-yard sack forcing a fourth-down and 28. Slade Jarman’s pass to Booke Chambers was incomplete and Arkansas-Pine Bluff took over.
The Golden Lions scored the game winner in five plays capped by Handley’s run.
The extra session was needed when Le’Trey Jones’ 38-yard interception return of Brandon Duncan with 6:38 left to play tied the score at 19. Duncan threw three interceptions and one touchdown.
Jarman threw for 182 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Mississippi Valley State (1-10, 1-8).