Jan. 2 (UPI) — Trinidad Chambliss threw for 362 yards and two scores to lead Ole Miss to an upset of Georgia for a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The No. 6 Rebels, who own one of college football’s top offenses, out-gained the No. 3 Bulldogs 474-343 in the 39-34 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory Thursday in New Orleans. Chambliss completed 30 of 46 passes, including a Suger Bowl record 13 consecutive completions.
“They’re never scared and they don’t panic, and that’s what I love about this group,” Rebels coach Pete Golding told reporters. “They don’t ever get too high. They don’t get too low. They want to get coached.
“They want to get coached hard, and they want another opportunity.”
Rebels kicker Lucas Carneiro made all three of his field goal attempts, including a game-winning 47-yard kick in the final seconds. With the victory, the Rebels advanced to the Fiesta Bowl, where they will take on the Miami Hurricanes for a ticket to the College Football Playoff finale.
The Rebels and Bulldogs exchanged the lead three times in the first half. Carneiro made 55- and 56-yard field goals in the first quarter for a 6-0 Rebels lead.
Bulldogs quarterback Ganner Stockton ended a 7-play, 75-yard drive with the first touchdown of the night. His 12-yard run 1:23 into the second quarter helped the Bulldogs take their first lead.
The Rebels (13-1) and Bulldogs (12-2) exchanged touchdowns on the next two drives.
Defensive lineman Elijah Griffin forced a fumble from Rebels running back Kewan Lacy 2:34 before halftime. Defensive back Daylen Everette recovered the loose ball and carried it 47 yards for a touchdown.
Lacy bounced back with a 7-yard touchdown run for the first points of the second half. Bulldogs kicker Peyton Woodring made a 37-yard field goal on the next possession to extend the advantage to 24-19.
Lacy scored for a second time, ending an 8-play, 75-yard drive and giving the lead back to the Rebels early in the fourth quarter.
Rebels linebacker Suntairine Perkins sacked Stockton, forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball on the next drive. Chambliss proceeded to find Harrison Wallace III for a 13-yard score on the resulting possession to help the Rebels increase their advantage to 34-24.
Stockton threw an 18-yard touchdown to Zachariah Branch on the next drive, but the Bulldogs didn’t find the end zone again.
Woodring tied the score with a 24-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining, but Chambliss then led the Rebels to the Bulldogs 30-yard line, setting up Carneiro’s go-ahead kick.
The game ended with a safety, as the Bulldogs failed in their final, desperate effort to find the end zone from deep in their own territory.
Lacy logged 110 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 24 touches. Wallace caught nine passes for a game-high 156 yards and a score. Fellow Rebels wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling totaled 122 yards on seven catches.
Stockton completed 18 of 31 passes for 203 yards and a score. He also ran for 20 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Bulldogs running back Nate Frazier logged 131 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches in the loss.
“A lot of people did doubt us before the season and they still doubted us when our coach [Lane Kiffin] left,” Chambliss said. “We just want to play ball and have fun, and I think that’s showing right now.”
The Rebels will meet the Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. EST Thursday in Glendale, Ariz. The winner of the College Football Playoff semifinal will take on the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers or No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the national title game Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Fla.
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