Baylor football vs ole miss

Al Walcott set a Sugar Bowl record with a 96-yard interception return, Monaray Baldwin ran 48 yards for the go-ahead score on one end, and Baylor, sixth in the standings, beat the No.8 Mississippi 21-7 Saturday night as Rebel quarterback Matt Corral, injured, watched from the sideline on crutches.

Abram Smith rushed for 172 yards to finish with a single-season record of 1,601 for Big 12 champion Baylor (12-2), who won 12 games in one season for the first time. The defense did the rest, finishing with 10 sacks - two per game MVP Terrel Bernard - and three steals.

Corral, a double-threat QB star and a projected NFL draft pick, has become one of the big Sugar Bowl stories because of his decision to play, rather than stepping down and downplaying injury risks before to become pro.

Corral had 3,936 yards and 31 touchdowns during the regular season. But his hopes of coming out on a high in a New Years bowl were shattered in Ole Miss's third round, when he was sacked from behind by Cole Maxwell amid a squad of players. When helped up and off the pitch, Corral put no weight on his right foot.

He was rushed to the locker room for x-rays before returning to the sideline wearing his red undershirt and using two black crutches.

Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin then turned his attack on to freshman Luke Altmyer, who led Ole Miss (10-3) to Baylor's 12-yard line in his first series, only to see his pass to the left flat tilted then intercepted. by Walcott, who ran down the straight sideline for only points in the first half. The interception comeback was the longest in 88-game Sugar Bowl history.

But the Rebels' defense managed to keep Baylor's offense scoreless through the three quarters, allowing Ole Miss to tie him on Altmyer's 37-yard pass on the straight sideline at Braylon Sanders.

Ole Miss was about to take the lead when Cole Nation lined up for a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but her kick went right off.

Baylor responded with Baldwin's first college touchdown in a season-long run for the rarely used freshman, who entered the game with five rushes and a catch.

Altmyer’s second interception, held back by safety JT Woods on a center pass, gave Gerry Bohanon a 2-yard pass to Tyquan Thornton for the game’s final score.

TAKE IT away

Baylor have been well served all season with a formula of good defense and ball control. After Corral's injury and a sixth pick in Altmyer's first set, the Bears' chances of making it work have only gotten better. Woods had two interceptions.

Ole Miss's defense kept the Rebels close after Corral's injury, blocking Baylor's offense until less than 12 minutes remained. But with Corral out, Kiffin's offense at the top of the SEC was not the same despite flashes of play from Altmyer, who was 15 of 29 for 174 yards. It didn't help kicker Caden Costa who was suspended for a prohibited substance. Nation missed two field goal attempts, the first by 49 yards in the first quarter.

FOLLOWING

Baylor: Opens the 2022 season at home against Louisiana Tech on September 3. The Bears have 14 senior starters to replace, including Smith and their top two receivers, Thompson and RJ Sneed. They also lose Jalen Pitre, the Big 12 defensive player of the year.

Mississippi: The Rebels open their 2022 season at home against Troy on September 3. Altmyer will be a favorite to replace Corral. Ole Miss will also be looking to fill the gaps in the receiver with Dontario Drummond, Jahcour Pearson and Sanders all ending their careers.

 Best running back Jerrion Ealy could turn pro. Defensively, the Rebels will be looking for an edge rusher to replace bag leader Sam Williams, who moves into the NFL.