No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels Late Rally Leads To Halftime Lead vs. Arkansas Razorbacks

The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels capitalized on a rare mistake by Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback K.J. Jefferson, leading to their halftime lead.

Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback K.J. Jefferson threw for 113 yards in the first half, but it wasn't enough as the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels lead 17-7 at halftime at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Jefferson stood in the pocket and tried to hit wide receiver Jaedon Wilson, but didn't see linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk. Jefferson threw it right to Cistrunk, who returned the interception 28 yards to the Razorbacks' three-yard line.

Running back Ulysses Bentley IV gained 2 yards — one each on first and second down, respectively — but quarterback Jaxson Dart was stuffed on third down. On fourth-and-goal, running back Quinshon Judkins lined up in the Wildcat formation and plunged ahead for the go-ahead touchdown.

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) runs in the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday / USA TODAY Sports

With time winding down in the first half, the Rebels covered 50 yards in just over a minute. Dart hit wide receiver Dayton Wade on a pop pass that he carried 6 yards into the end zone to take a 17-7 lead.

Jefferson started 8-for-9 on Arkansas' opening drive, including four-consecutive completions to tight end Ty Washington. Jefferson faked a handoff to Raheim Sanders and hit Washington on a 3-yard flat route, as he shedded John Saunders Jr.'s tackle attempt and strolled into the end zone to open the scoring.

The Razorbacks' signal-caller finished the first half 12-for-19 for 113 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

On Ole Miss' drive following the Arkansas touchdown, Dart had a run for 17 yards and a throw to Tre Harris for 26 that set up Caden Davis' 27-yard field goal make.

The Rebels were looking to extend what was a 10-7 lead at the time midway through the second quarter, but one penalty that was called and another that wasn't stalled their momentum — and head coach Lane Kiffin was irate on both.

Dart hit Harris on a 41-yard completion that was called back for a holding penalty on Micah Pettus. Then, later in the drive, Dart was pushed out of bounds for a loss of 5 yards, but Kiffin wanted a late hit on the play.

Kiffin wasn't happy with the officials, but he's happy with how the defense is playing, he told SEC Network's Alyssa Lang heading into halftime.