With a fourth down Southern skipped the chance for a short field goal, coach P. W. Underwood called for a reverse by reserve tailback Willie Heidelburg, who raced around right end to tie the game.
Early in the second half, Southern again drove to the Rebel 11-yard line, and Underwood again called for a Heidelberg reverse.
Minutes later Gerry Saggus returned a Rebel punt 60 yards for a touchdown, giving Southern a 30-14 lead with 5:45 left in the third quarter and would be the final score of the game.
Donegan, a 165-pound junior, completed 14 of 30 passes for 116 yards and helped set up one touchdown with a 46-yard quarterback keeper.
Manning threw two touch down passes in the opening period, however, the heavily favored Rebels were held scoreless for the rest of the afternoon.
Ray Guy also played a major role in the hard-fought battle, connecting on a tie-breaking, 47-yard field goal shortly before half-time and kicking 3 extra points for Coach P. W. (Bear) Underwood's eleven.