Bayou Bengals Hand Rebels First Loss of Season in Death Valley

The No. 3 Ole Miss football team forced four turnovers at No. 23 LSU on Saturday night, but the Ole Miss offense couldn’t find a rhythm and the Rebels (7-1, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) lost its first game of the season, 10-7.
The Rebels’ defense, which entered Saturday’s game ranked third nationally with 20 turnovers forced, picked off two passes and forced two fumbles, giving it 24 turnovers for the year.

Ole Miss was fortunate in the first quarter to escape with a 7-0 lead. On its opening drive, LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) drove down to the Rebels’ 12-yard line, but missed wide left on a 28-yard field goal attempt. Then, on its second drive of the game, LSU again drove down the field, but fumbled at the 1-yard line and Ole Miss recovered in the end zone for a touchback.
The Rebels’ offense took advantage of the turnover, going 80 yards in six plays, finishing with a 15-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bo Wallace to junior wide receiver Cody Core. It was Core’s team-leading fifth touchdown reception of the year.
LSU got on the board with 2:47 remaining in the first half on a 21-yard field goal to cut the Ole Miss lead to 7-3, which would end up being the halftime score.
After a scoreless third quarter, LSU seized the lead in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Logan Stokes with 5:07 remaining. Ole Miss couldn’t answer though, as Wallace was intercepted with two seconds left, marking the first time all year he had been picked off in SEC play.
The Ole Miss defense, which entered Saturday night tied for the lead nationally with 15 interceptions, now has 17 interceptions. Ole Miss has also now caused a turnover in 31 consecutive games, which is the second longest active streak in the country.
Senior linebacker Deterrian Shackelford forced the first fumble of the game at the Rebels’ goal line, and senior safety Cody Prewitt recovered it.
Prewitt then forced the second fumble of the game, which was recovered by junior defensive end C.J. Johnson.
Golson’s eighth interception is tied for the third most in single-season program history, and his eight picks this year are tied for the lead nationally.
Junior defensive back Mike Hilton also had an interception in the fourth quarter, his third pick of the year.
—Ole Miss Sports Information