The “Henry Heave” Leads Arkansas to 53-52 OT Upset Win over No. 19 Ole Miss

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Oxford – A college football highlight that will be played time and time again and a quarterback duel between Arkansas’ Brandon Allen and Mississippi’s Chad Kelly ended in a 53-52 overtime thriller for the Razorbacks Saturday night in Oxford.

Arkansas (5-4, 3-2) head coach Bret Bielema picked up his second SEC road win over No. 19 Ole Miss (7-3, 4-2) in dramatic fashion after facing a 4th and 25 in the second part of the first overtime. A 10-yard pass to tight end Hunter Henry was far short of the needed yardage for a first down but before being tackled to the ground, the All-SEC selection heaved the ball backwards amazingly landing in front of All-SEC running back Alex Collins. Collins picked the ball up for a 31-yard run appearing to lateral the ball backwards as he was going down but recovered by wide receiver Dominque Reed securing the first down.

Allen connected with Drew Morgan on a 9-yard touchdown and then the senior quarterback was called upon to get the game deciding score on a two-point conversion. With Arkansas not opting to tie the game to send into a second overtime, Allen rolled right and was stopped by Marquis Haynes but Haynes was called for a facemask giving the Razorbacks one shot at getting the two-point conversion and the win. On the second two-point conversion attempt, Allen ran the ball in for the winning score.

Allen had a career day hitting 33 of 45 pass attempts for 442 yards with six passing touchdowns and zero interceptions thrown.

In the other huddle, junior college transfer Chad Kelly also posted a career game connecting on 24 of 34 passes for 368 yards with three passing touchdowns and three rushing scores. Arkansas could not stop Kelly when he scrambled allowing him to rush for 110 yards on 11 carries. Kelly too had a clean game not throwing a pick.

The game was tight throughout being tied at the end of all four quarters, at 7-all, 17-all, 31-all, and 45-all. Allen started the scoring parade hitting Morgan on a 31-yard touchdown midway through the first. Four minutes later Jaylen Walton answered for the Rebels running it in from three yards out. Allen also opened the second quarter with a score hitting Reed on a 15-yard pass. Kelly rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to tie the game and then Arkansas and Ole Miss traded field goals in the closing minute of the first half for a 17-tie.

Kelly opened the third quarter moving the ball quickly down the field hitting Damore’ea Stringfellow on a 23-yard score starting the high-scoring second half.

In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss scored back-to-back touchdowns taking a 45-38 lead but Allen brought the Hogs down hitting Reed again, this time on a 17-yard touchdown pass to put the game into overtime. Kelly scored on the Rebels opening possession in overtime leading to the dramatic conclusion.

Little defense was played seeing Arkansas rack up 616 yards of offense and Ole Miss 591 yards. Neither team had a turnover with the only blemish being a 47-yard blocked Arkansas field goal attempt by Cole Hedlund that could have won the game in regulation.

Alex Collins led the Razorbacks with 108 yards rushing on 17 carries with Kody Walker adding 49 yards on 15 totes with one score. Allen had two receivers go over 100 yards with Drew Morgan pulling in nine passes for 122 yards with three touchdowns and Dominique Reed hauling in seven for 105 yards with two scores. Tight end Hunter Henry had six receptions for 60 yards.

Jaylen Walton contributed 76 rushing yard for Ole Miss on 13 carries with one score. Laquon Treadwell seemed unstoppable coming up with seven receptions for 132 yards with one score.

Next week Arkansas goes on the road again to face No. 2 LSU and Ole Miss has a bye week before hosting LSU.

Photo credit: Thomas Graning; Brandon Allen scores on two-point conversion to give Arkansas 53-52 overtime win against Ole Miss.