Raheim Sanders set career highs with 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Arkansas Razorbacks became bowl-eligible Saturday night, downing No. 14 Ole Miss 42-27 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Sanders, who carried the ball 24 times, topped his previous high of 175 yards and two scores set on Oct. 15 in a 52-35 win over BYU.
After missing last week’s home loss against No. 7 LSU, quarterback KJ Jefferson returned and went 17 of 22 passing for 168 yards and three scores. Matt Landers caught two touchdown passes, and Ketron Jackson Jr. had the other.
Linebacker Drew Sanders had a fumble recovery and an interception for Arkansas (6-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference).
For Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), Jaxson Dart was 21-for-36 for 240 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Malik Heath had 140 yards and a score on nine receptions.
Running back Quinshon Judkins totaled a season-best 214 yards on 24 carries. That gave the true freshman 1,385 yards — a single-season program record.
Zach Evans had a career-high 207 yards on 17 carries. Ole Miss produced 703 yards of offense, including 463 on the ground.
With Jefferson back under center, the Razorbacks perked up on offense on their second possession and went 69 yards on seven plays before the junior hit Landers for an 8-yard score at 8:28 of the first quarter.
On its next possession, the Arkansas offense went 73 yards for a score. Jefferson lobbed a perfect pass that Landers caught over his shoulder for a 23-yard TD.
The Rebels’ offense came to life on the ensuing series, with Dart finding Heath for a 53-yard gain. Jonathan Cruz put the visitors on the board with two minutes left in the quarter by curling in a 45-yard field goal.
In the first minute of the second quarter, Jackson won a one-on-one battle and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 21-3 lead. Cruz later drilled a 32-yard field goal.
Sanders, who had 153 yards rushing yards in the first half, scored twice inside the last 2:20 to put the home side ahead 35-6 at the break.
His 68-yard touchdown run in the third quarter eclipsed his career highs, while Judkins, Evans and Heath tallied for Ole Miss in the fourth for the final margin.
–Field Level Media
