No. 3 Mississippi suffered its first loss of the season on the road against No. 24 Louisiana State, 10-7, in an unexpectedly low scoring game Saturday night.
The Tigers’ defense was led by linebackers Kendell Beckwith (10 tackles) and Kwon Alexander (eight tackles) and limited the Rebels, who came into the matchup averaging 34.5 points per game, to one first-quarter touchdown.
LSU missed a field goal and lost two fumbles in the opening frame before making a field goal in the second quarter to narrow Ole Miss’ halftime lead to 7-3.
The Tigers took the lead with six minutes left in the game after tight end Logan Strokes caught a three-yard pass from quarterback Anthony Jennings for the deciding touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Rebels (7-1), quarterback Bo Wallace took a chance with nine seconds left on the clock and diverted from coach Hugh Freeze’s plan of looking for a safe pass to set up a game-tying field goal attempt. Wallace, going for a touchdown pass from 30 yards out, was intercepted at the 1-yard line by LSU safety Ronald Martin.
The Tigers hope to take Saturday’s momentum into its next game against Alabama at home on Nov. 8. Ole Miss will return home to play Auburn on Saturday.
UCLA hangs on
No. 25 UCLA looked like it was well on its way to a comfortable victory Saturday after taking a 31-14 lead by the end of the third quarter against Colorado.
However, the Bruins (6-2) had to battle back in double overtime to squeeze out a 40-37 win following a 17-0 run by the Buffaloes (2-6) in the fourth quarter.
Despite boasting opposite records, Saturday’s high-scoring game couldn’t have been closer, with three lead changes in the fourth quarter and overtime.
After alternating field goals in the first overtime period, Colorado tacked on another field goal on its second overtime drive to take a three-point lead. However, Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley clinched the victory on the ensuing drive with a last-second decision at the line of scrimmage.
The UCLA offense originally planned to hand the ball off to its running back, but Hundley spotted the Buffaloes’ defense countering the play and instead ran with the ball himself to score an eight-yard touchdown.
Although Hundley struggled to pass with strong winds, he finished with 200 passing yards in addition to 110 yards rushing the ball. Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, both to wide receiver Bryce Bobo.
The Buffaloes will host Washington Saturday while the Bruins will welcome Arizona to Pasadena.
No. 18 ECU survives against UConn
No. 18 East Carolina had plans for what appeared to be an easy win at home against the Connecticut in last Thursday’s matchup, but needed to score the game’s final 10 points to secure a 31-21 win.
Riding a four-game losing streak, UConn (1-6) scored a touchdown in the first quarter for the first time all season and tied for its best offensive output this year.
Trailing by seven points late in the third quarter, Huskies quarterback Chandler Whitmer and wide receiver Deshon Foxx hooked up for an impressive 88-yard touchdown catch to tie the game 21-21 heading into the final quarter.
But ECU (6-1) escaped the upset behind a field goal and a nine-yard touchdown run by Breon Allen with 1:25 left in the game.
Pirates quarterback Shane Carden also contributed to the Pirates’ win, accumulating 445 passing yards and two touchdowns.
ECU will look to continue its five-game winning streak Saturday against Temple, while the Huskies continue to search for their second win against Central Florida.
Brittany Collens can be reached at [email protected].
