FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas tailback Rawleigh Williams showed the Ole Miss Rebels first-hand they were right to want him.
Williams rushed 27 times for a career-high 180 yards and caught his first career touchdown pass to help No. 22 Arkansas beat No. 12 Ole Miss 34-30 Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"Raweigh's an exceptional football player," Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema said. "I'm glad he's playing for us."
Williams, a sophomore from Dallas, signed with Arkansas in 2015 after initially committing to Ole Miss in April of 2013 before his junior season at Bishop Lynch High School. He changed his commitment to Arkansas in July of 2014.
Saturday night was the first time Williams faced the Rebels. He missed last year's game at Ole Miss after suffering a season-ending neck injury against Auburn.
"I have a lot of friends on that team and they're a great team," Williams said of Ole Miss, "so for us to have success like we did, it means a lot to me and it means a lot to our offense."
Williams had a 22-yard run on Arkansas' game-winning touchdown drive to give the Razorbacks a first down at the Ole Miss 6. Two plays later, receiver Jared Cornelius scored on a 6-yard run to put the Razorbacks ahead 34-30 with 2:20 left.
"Rawleigh's big opportunities came because he was preparing for this day every which way possible," Bielema said.
Williams had big runs throughout the game, including a 53-yard gain to the Ole Miss 12 in the first quarter to set up Austin Allen's touchdown pass to Drew Morgan that put the Razorbacks ahead 14-6.
"The way he runs the ball and gets those 2 or 3 yards when nothing's there, and then the way he breaks those 20-, 25-yard runs, it really opens up our offense," Allen said. "It helps me.
"The run game helps the pass game, the play-action and everything. Anytime we can get him the ball and get him going, it's a good recipe for us."
Arkansas gained 200 yards rushing against Ole Miss after being held to 73 yards the previous week in a 49-30 loss to Alabama when Allen was sacked six times.
"That's our identity, to run the ball," Williams said. "There were some plays where I was telling the coaches, 'Hey, there was a big hole, let's run it again.'
"I told the offensive line, 'Let's keep doing it, because they can't stop it.' "
Williams credited the offensive line for holding blocks to provide an extra second or two seconds that made all the difference in creating holes.
"Things opened up like they haven't all season," Williams said.
Williams caught a flip from Allen on a third-and-goal play from the Ole Miss 2 and ran it in to put the Razorbacks ahead 27-20 in the third quarter.
The play was ruled a pass, giving Allen three touchdown passes for the game.
"It's all good," Williams said with a smile. "I helped my quarterback out, so I think he appreciated that."
Freshman tailback Devwah Whaley provided quality relief for Williams by rushing 11 times for 65 yards.
Whaley was the second option to run the ball because Bielema said after the game senior Kody Walker will miss the rest of the season and undergo foot surgery today.
"I don't know if Rawleigh could do that for four quarters," Bielema said. "Obviously, to get Devwah in there, make him get a couple of those explosive runs, is pretty good."
Williams said he was excited about what Whaley did against Ole Miss and the 1-2 running punch they can be for the Razorbacks moving forward.
"I'm so proud of that kid," Williams said. "He works hard and he earns everything that he gets.
"For him having the success he did, I think it'll pay off in the long run for both of us."
Sports on 10/16/2016