Box Score

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Mississippi totaled 335 rushing yards on the way to a 52-6 win over Southeastern Louisiana in non-conference football action Saturday night at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The Lions (1-2) held close through the first quarter and a half, but USM (2-1) came back with 38 unanswered points to blow the game open. Both of Southeastern's losses this season have come to Football Bowl Subdivision opponents.

“Southern Miss was really physical up front on both sides of the ball,” Southeastern head coach Mike Lucas said. “When you look at our height and weight and their height and weight, we were going to have a hard time running the football. We had some holes but they closed up really quickly.”

Southeastern was able to move the ball effectively, amassing 285 total yards and 19 first downs. Senior Simmie Yarborough led the Lion offense with seven catches for 81 yards.

Junior Brian Young got the start at quarterback, completing 14 of 27 passes for 143 yards. Junior Nathan Stanley also saw action for the Lions and connected on five of 13 pass attempts for 62 yards. However, Stanley also threw three interceptions – including two that were returned for touchdowns. Southeastern also was hampered by being penalized 13 times for 90 yards.

USM's offense was led by the running back tandem of Kendrick Hardy and Jamal Woodyard, as both scored rushing touchdowns for the Golden Eagles. Hardy carried 18 times for 155 yards, while Woodyard totaled 99 yards on 15 carries. Senior quarterback Austin Davis efficiently led the USM offense, finishing 16-for-23 for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Junior linebacker Tay Alford led Southeastern with 11 tackles, while junior Marice Sutton finished with 10 stops. Korey Williams led USM with 10 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown at the end of the first half that broke the game open.

Southern Miss extended its 22-point halftime lead with a methodical drive that took over five minutes off the clock to open the half. USM kicker Danny Hrapmann drilled a 49-yard field goal to push the lead to 31-6 with 9:48 left in the third quarter.

The Lions looked to cut down the lead with an impressive drive of their own to open the second half. Senior Kory Theodore ran down a 49-yard bomb from Young, as Southeastern marched down to the USM eight-yard line. However, Sebastian's 25-yard field goal attempt hit off the left upright keeping the Golden Eagles lead at 25. Southern Miss came back with another patient drive down the field, but Hrapmann's 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.

After Southeastern was stopped on its next drive, USM put the game away with 13-play, 71-yard drive that lasted into the fourth quarter. Davis capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Collin Jarbo to put USM up, 38-6, with 13:24 left.

Southern Miss would add to the lead on a 15-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Hester that moved USM ahead, 45-6, with 6:54 left. On Southeastern's next offensive play, Octavius Thomas picked off Stanley and walked in for a six-yard touchdown return to put USM up, 52-6.

After forcing Southeastern to punt on its opening drive, Southern Miss opened with a 10-play, 80-yard drive. Hardy keyed the drive with three carries for 27 yards. After a Lion pass interference penalty on third down extended the drive, Davis connected with a wide-open Woodyard for a 23-yard touchdown and a 7-0 USM lead with 8:47 remaining in the quarter.

After a three-and-out and a 20-yard punt by junior Beau Mothe set USM up with a short field, Southeastern's defense stiffened and Hrapmann – a former Lion – missed a 44-yard field goal.

Southeastern drove into USM territory on their next drive, however were forced to punt. The Eagles then embarked on a methodical 11-play, 89-yard drive that Hardy capped with a five-yard scoring run to put USM up, 14-0, less than a minute into the second quarter.

The Lions were forced to punt again and Mothe had his punt partially blocked. However, the punt bounced off a USM player and into the arms of Lion junior Michael Chaney.

Southeastern did not immediately make anything of the opportunity, but Mothe connected with junior C.J. Ogbuehi for a 29-yard catch and run on a fake punt. The Lions converted two more fourth downs on a drive that culminated with a 32-yard field goal by sophomore Seth Sebastian that pulled Southeastern within 14-3, with 8:20 remaining in the first half.

The Lions pulled closer after forcing the Golden Eagles to go three-and-out. Stanley hit sophomore Jarrett Johnson on a 24-yard throw on a third-and-16 situation to key a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive. Sebastian knocked in a 19-yard field goal to cut the USM lead to 14-6 with 2:58 left in the half.

USM retook the lead and the momentum with a quick three-play, 60-yard march. Woodyard ripped off a 25-yard touchdown run right up the middle to put the Golden Eagles up, 21-6, with just over two minutes left in the first half.

The Golden Eagle defense deflated the Lions at the end of the half. Southeastern marched into USM territory, but on the final play of the half, Stanley's pass bounced off the hands of Theodore and into the hands of USM's Korey Williams, who returned the pick 60 yards to take a 28-6 lead into the break.

Southeastern will be back in action next Saturday, when it travels to McNeese State for the Southland Conference opener at 7 p.m. in Lake Charles. The Lions-Cowboys matchup will be broadcast live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9) and on the Internet at www.LionSports.net.