Danny Wimprine was rolling out deep in his own end zone with aRebel defender close on his heels.
In years past, Wimprine might have been sacked in the end zone,but times change.
Wimprine -- hurried by the heavy pass rush -- threw anoff-balance pass in the vicinity of Tigers wide receiver TavariousDavis, who was well covered about 40 yards down field.
In years past, Wimprine's pass would have been intercepted, buttimes change.
This time everything was different.
"I just tried to put the ball up and let (Davis) make the play,"Wimprine said. "And that's what he did."
Davis stopped abruptly, reached over the stumbling defender,snatched the fluttering pass and sped 92 yards for the go-aheadtouchdown as Memphis beat Ole Miss going away 44-34 Saturday at theLiberty Bowl in front of 51,914 mixed fans.
The game featured over 900 yards of total offense (506 forMemphis), 7 touchdown passes (3 for Wimprine, 4 for Rebelsquarterback Eli Manning) and more ups and downs than the Zippin'Pippin.
The Tigers got out to an early lead when Wimprine found DeAngeloWilliams for a 19-yard touchdown catch.
The play was set up by a Rebel fumble, the first of threeturnovers forced by the Tigers defense.
"The defense showed up big today. They put the hammer down."Williams said.
Williams added two more scores, including a 43-yard scamperaround the end to start the second quarter that increased the lead14-0.
Trailing by 14, Mississippi scored 34 of the next 41 points --all in the second and third quarters -- to give the Rebels a 34-21lead.
The lone Tigers score came right before halftime on a 31-yardstrike from Wimprine to wideout Maurice Avery.
"Field postion had a lot to do (with the Rebels scoring run),"West said. "When you get backed up, you can't make a mistake. Wedid and it cost us."
West was referring to shoddy Tigers special teams -- especiallyin the punting game -- that contributed to 10 Rebels points. Adropped snap by punter Brandon Roberson in the second quarter ledto a Rebel field goal.
Early in the third, Ole Miss capitalized on a fumble by Tigerspunt returner Cole Hoppe. Manning's 5-yard touchdown pass toLorenzo Townsend gave them their first lead, 24-21.
After a fruitless possession by Memphis, Manning struck again,floating a beautiful 40 yard pass onto the fingertips of BillFlowers for a touchdown and a 31-21 lead. Manning threw fourtouchdown passes in just over two quarters, eclipsing the 33year-old school record for total touchdowns previously held by hisfather Archie Manning.
A field goal stretched the Rebels lead to 34-21 entering thefourth quarter.
In the third quarter alone, Ole Miss out-gained Memphis133-19.
"I knew we had to be the next team to score or it was over,"West said.
Ole Miss would not score again.
"Guys on the sideline still had their head up," Wimprine said."Then the momentum shifted."
Memphis exploded for 258 total yards in the fourth, including215 yards passing. Williams capped a six-play, 70-yard drive with a20 yard TD run to make it 34-28. Overall, Williams ran for 135yards for the game.
After a defensive stop, the Tigers added a 21-yard field goalfrom Stephen Gostkowski.
On the Rebels' next drive, Taye Biddle dropped a certaintouchdown on a perfect pass from Manning. The Rebels were forced topunt on the next play, which set the stage for Davis' 92-yarddash.
I think our conditioning took over in the fourth because ourplayers made plays," West said.
The defense made the points hold up.
Constant pressure forced Manning to throw two interceptions fromCoot Terry and Derrick Ballard on successive drives. Ballard's pickled to Gostkowski's 18-yard field goal with 50 seconds left to sealthe victory.
