The UCA Bears faced another loss with a final score of 59-3 against the Ole Miss Rebels on Sept. 10 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Rebels kicked off the Saturday game and within the first two minutes, Ole Miss sophomore Luke Altmyer threw a touchdown pass to sophomore teammate Michael Trigg. The Rebels led 7-0.

After a mishap with the long snap, Ole Miss sophomore Ladarius Tennison picked up the ball and made his way 49 yards for a second touchdown, bringing the Rebels up to 14-0. 

Ole Miss sophomore Bobo Miller blocked a punt by UCA junior Chandler Caughron before Altmyer and Trigg worked together for a three-yard score, making the score 21-0. With 21 seconds left in the first quarter, Altmyer scored once again for the Rebels, ending the quarter with a score of 28-0. 

No touchdowns were made for either the UCA Bears or Ole Miss Rebels during the second quarter. A pass from Altmyer to Ole Miss junior Casey Kelly fell incomplete and the Rebels turned the ball over on downs. 

The UCA Bears eventually reached the Ole Miss 49 but they punted again. Within the last minute of the quarter, Ole Miss senior Jonathan Cruz connected on a 41-yard field goal. 

The second quarter ended with the Rebels leading the scoreboard 31-0. 

Notable moments for UCA in the first half of the game include an interception by junior cornerback K.C. Clark and a sack by junior defensive end Logan Jessup. 

UCA kicked off the third quarter of the game but failed to keep the ball for long. With 11:38 left in the third quarter, the Rebels scored from three yards out, making the score 38-0. 

Trigg scored another touchdown for the Rebels with 8:09 left in the quarter. Ole Miss now led 45-0. 

The Bears tried to keep the ball but turned the ball over on downs multiple times. Eventually, Ole Miss sophomore Jaxson Dart threw a touchdown pass to senior Malik Heath from six yards out. The final score of the third quarter was 52-0. 

The Bears finally made it to the scoreboard during the fourth quarter with a 31-yard field goal by senior Hayden Ray. With 9:54 remaining, the score became 52-3. 

Within minutes, Ole Miss’ Ulysses Bentley IV scored the final points of the game, leaving the UCA Bears with a loss of 59-3 against the Ole Miss Rebels. 

“We played against a top 25 team, that is a challenge in itself. They get some of the top recruits in the country and are coached at a high level. Obviously we wish we would have come away with wins but it is big for our program and athletic department for us to play in games like that,” coach Nathan Brown said.

UCA quarterback Will McElvain said, “We prepared for this game just how we would any other. I don’t think you ever want to over or under play an opponent in your head and obviously this was a very good team.” 

The UCA Bears will face off against the Idaho State Bengals on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. in Pocatello, Idaho.