Ole Miss had to delay celebrating their 39-34 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia multiple times on Thursday night. After kicking a go-ahead field goal with six seconds left, Ole Miss got a safety on the final kickoff when Georgia’s return team tried a cross-field lateral that hit the pylon. Players and coaches began celebrating but had to go back to the sidelines as officials required Georgia to kick off with one second remaining.
Georgia recovered an onside kick and held the ball for the final second, and Ole Miss players celebrated again, thinking the game was over. Even head coach Pete Golding got a Gatorade bath. However, officials made them play the last second, and stadium staff had to move the winner’s stage back to clear space for the final play. Georgia ran one more play with multiple laterals before it ended, and then Ole Miss finally celebrated their College Football Playoff (CFP) victory.
The win sends Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) to a semifinal against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday. The Sugar Bowl had plenty of drama after two lopsided CFP quarterfinals at the Orange and Rose bowls.
Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) saw a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 left. They rallied to tie the game, first with Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch, then Peyton Woodring’s short field goal with 55 seconds left.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss set up the winning kick with a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling on third down from their 30-yard line. A few plays later, kicker Lucas Carneiro, who already set Sugar Bowl records with 55- and 56-yard field goals, made a 47-yard kick and ran toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels celebrated.
Harrison Wallace III caught nine passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, Stribling had seven catches for 122 yards, and Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Ole Miss outgained Georgia 473 yards to 343. For Georgia, Stockton passed for 203 yards with one touchdown and ran for two scores.
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Ole Miss, Georgia, Sugar Bowl, 39-34 victory, College Football Playoff (CFP), Pete Golding, Trinidad Chambliss, Lucas Carneiro, De’Zhaun Stribling, Gunner Stockton, Harrison Wallace III, Kewan Lacy, Peyton Woodring
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