Rebels Storm Back in Second Half to Defeat Texas A&M

Shea Patterson drops back for a pass as Coach Hugh Freeze looks on at the Indoor Practice Facility for the Spring Rebels Scrimmage.

Ole Miss has been on the wrong side of games like these too often during the 2016 season where the opponent rallied from behind in the second half. This time, the Rebels were the ones celebrating as the clock hit all zeroes.

True freshman quarterback Shea Patterson had a night to remember in his collegiate debut, totaling 402 total yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rebel comeback. On the defensive side, the Rebels allowed just seven second-half points and sealed the victory off Deontay Anderson’s interception with 16 seconds to go.

The 15-point halftime comeback was the largest of the Hugh Freeze era.

Early on, Ole Miss (5-5, 2-4 SEC) entered the halftime break without a touchdown trailing 21-6, but held the Aggies (7-3, 4-3 SEC) scoreless in the third quarter and stormed back with 23 fourth-quarter points.

The 23 points were due in part to a stellar defensive effort in the final 30 minutes, where the Rebels allowed only seven points. That Landshark D gave Ole Miss its biggest chance of the night with 3:44 to go when it forced an Aggie three-and-out, giving the Rebels possession with 3:44 showing on the clock.

A drive that started at their own 42, the Rebels marched down field thanks to a big pass play from Patterson to Evan Engram for nine yards, and a big 13-yard run down the far sideline setting up a first-and-10 at the Aggie 25. From there, the Rebels set up Gary Wunderlich for a 39-yard field goal to grab the lead away from the Aggies with 39 seconds left.

Ole Miss needed one more stand from the defense to close out the game, and the Rebels got just that. It was fitting that since one true freshman led the Rebels down the field for the go-ahead field goal, another true freshman sealed the deal with an interception when Anderson stepped in front of Jake Hubenak’s pass.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports