OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - The Ole Miss Rebels had to have a win on Saturday night in order to extend their season, and they got it in a big way. Ole Miss snapped a three-game skid to Mississippi State in the annual Egg Bowl game behind 17 third quarter points, as the Rebels defeated the Bulldogs 41-24.
The game started off with back-to-back scores within the first two minutes of the game. Bo Wallace connected with Jamal Mosley for a 25-yard touchdown just 1:43 into the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Jameon Lewis went from goal line to goal line for a 100-yard kick return touchdown to bring the game back even at 7-7.
It took 10 minutes for the teams to break the 7-7 deadlock, when Tyler Russell found Chad Bumphis for a 42-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.
Cam Lawrence intercepted two Bo Wallace passes in the first quarter alone, but the Bulldogs could not capitalize on either turnover.
In the second quarter, Ole Miss kicked a field goal to get within four, then Bo Wallace fed Donte Moncrief on a 77-yard touchdown pass to give Ole Miss a 17-14 lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 17 before the half, but it was all Ole Miss in the second half.
Ole Miss outscored Mississippi State 17-0 in the third quarter, as Bo Wallace and Donte Moncrief connected for two more touchdowns. The Rebels added another touchdown to start the fourth when Wallace found Vince Sanders to take a 41-17 lead.
Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass to Chad Bumphis with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
Moncrief finished the day with seven catches for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Bo Wallace threw two interceptions (both picks by Cam Lawrence) but finished the day with five touchdown passes and 294 yards through the air.
For Mississippi State, Chad Bumphis caught six passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Russell went just 18-of-33 for 268 yards and one touchdown while throwing two interceptions.
Jeff Scott led all rushers with 28 carries for 111 yards on the ground. LaDarius Perkins led Mississippi State rushers with 45 yards on 16 carries.
Mississippi State ends the regular season with a record of (8-4), including a (4-4) mark in the Southeastern Conference. Ole Miss closes the season with a (6-6) record, including a (3-5) record in the SEC.
Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State are bowl-eligible. It's the first time both teams are bowl-eligible in the same season since 2000, when Ole Miss played West Virginia in the Music City Bowl and Mississippi State played Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.
