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In an epic end to the rivalry game, it was Peterson who caught the go-ahead conversion that gave the Rebels a 15-14 win. This win proved critical, as it not only vaulted Ole Miss to a berth in the Motor City Bowl, but, just as importantly, kept State at home in Starkville. Punt return against SMU, 1998
In September, 1988 against SMU, Peterson, again, came up huge for the Rebels. Ole Miss trailed the Mustangs 41-19 half-way through the fourth quarter. Joe Gunn scored on a three-yard run with 7:22 left, and the Rebels’ two-point conversion cut the SMU lead to 41-27. The Rebels had cut the lead, but time was growing short. However, a mere 87 seconds later, it was Peterson who made an electrifying play to get the Rebels right back in the game. SMU punted to the Rebel star, who promptly ran it back 92 yards for a touchdown. This marked Ole Miss’ first punt return for a touchdown since 1996, and the fifth-longest in school history. On Ole Miss’ next possession, QB Romaro Miller hit Grant Heard for a 44-yard TD pass to send the game into OT, tied 41-41. Deuce McAllister scored on a four-yard run during the first possession of OT, and the Rebel defense held SMU on its ensuing possession to secure the 48-41 win. Miller completed 32-of-57 passes on the day for 351 yards, with one TD and an interception. Heard and Peterson combined for 16 catches and 181 yards, but it was Peterson’s punt return that helped turn the game around and enabled the Rebels to leave Dallas with a victory. LSU on Halloween Night, 1998
When looking back at Peterson’s career, it is astounding to see the number of times the sure-handed receiver came up with a critical catch. LSU in 1998 is just another example.
CORY PETERSON SCORES THE WINNING TD AGAINST LSU. (PHOTO CREDIT: OLE MISS ATHLETICS)
Cory recalled that game played on Halloween at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. “We jumped out to a 31-10 lead on the Tigers heading into the fourth quarter,” he said. But it wasn’t to be that easy, as LSU scored 21 unanswered points in the 4th to tie the game at 31. Many Ole Miss fans felt their hearts pounding and a sickening feeling growing in their stomachs as they headed into overtime, but Cory Peterson and the Rebels were not going to be denied that day in Oxford. Ole Miss had the ball on the 25-yard line when quarterback Romaro Miller threw a 20 yard completion to Peterson. Peterson described what happened next. “I caught the ball, turned up-field and saw nothing but daylight. Unfortunately, the daylight closed fast, and as I crossed the goal line I was hit by two LSU defenders. The ball popped out.” As Peterson fell to the turf, entangled with an LSU defender, he and all of Vaught-Hemingway watched as the ball floated downwards—with the fate of the Rebels hanging in the balance. Fortunately, as was often the case, Peterson came