University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Cowboys Defeat Golden Eagles, 33-23, in Houston Bowl
12/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Cowboys Defeat Golden Eagles, 33-23, in Houston Bowl
HOUSTON, Texas ? For three-and-a-half quarters Southern Miss challenged Oklahoma State, but the Cowboys overtook the Golden Eagles in the final half of the fourth quarter to win, 33-23, in the third annual Houston Bowl.
Rashaun Woods caught nine catches for 164 yards and a touchdown to lead OSU and collected Houston Bowl Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Game honors. Linebacker Kevin Williams (seven tackles, six solos and three sacks for 15 yards) was named Defensive Player of the Game, and placekicker Luke Phillips (4-for-5 on field goal attempts, including a 51-yarder) was named Special Teams Player of the Game.
Dustin Almond came in on the Golden Eagles? second drive of the game and remained in the contest as USM?s quarterback. He finished the game completing 11-of-27 passes for 173 yards and rushing 17 times for 54 yards and one touchdown.
?I was real proud of our team?s effort,? Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower said. ?I thought we played hard, and you can?t fault that. We played a physical game, but we gave up too many big plays.?
James Walley led the Golden Eagles with 21 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown. Chris Johnson led Southern Miss in receiving with five catches for 67 yards.
Southern Miss held a 23-20 lead at the end of the third quarter, after Curt Jones connected on a 30-yard field goal attempt, his third-consecutive trey of the game. The arch shot gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game.
The USM lead was short-lived, as Phillips hit his fourth field goal of the game at the start of the final period, knotting the score at 23-23. The Golden Eagles could not counter on the following drive, but a Greg Brooks interception on USM?s nine-yard line at 12:40 kept the game up for grabs.
Oklahoma State used a 33-yard pass to Billy Bajema from quarterback Josh Fields to move into Southern Miss territory. Then, on a four-and-one at the Eagles? 24-yard line, OSU converted the first down on Fields? sneak rush, keeping the drive alive.
On the next play, the Cowboys regained the lead, 30-23, as Tatum Bell rushed up the middle of the line for 22 yards into the end zone. Bell ended the game with 13 carries for 160 yards and one touchdown. OSU solidified the victory with Phillips? fourth field goal at 5:15.
Oklahoma State got off to a quick start as it scored on the first two possessions of the game. On the opening drive, Fields drove his team by throwing for 63 yards on 6-of-7 passing. Fields capped off the drive with a 3-yard pass to Mike Denard. Following Phillips? extra point, Oklahoma State had a 7-0 lead.
The Cowboys extended the lead to 10-0, as Phillips nailed a 46-yard field goal with 7:50 remaining in the opening quarter. But the Golden Eagles rallied, scoring 10 unanswered points on their next two drives.
On the team?s final drive in the first quarter, Jones made good on a 38-yard field goal to put Southern Miss on the board. The team tied the game with 10:32 remaining in the second quarter as Almond rushed around end for a 13-yard score. Jones? point after knotted the score at 10 points even.
Phillips responded and regained the lead for the Cowboys as he booted a Houston Bowl record and career-high 52-yard field goal with 8:05 left before half. After swapping scoreless drives, Southern Miss tied the game again with a 24-yard field goal at the 2:29 mark in the second frame. The score was set up by an Almond-to-Johnson 49-yard pass play.
Just as quickly, however, Oklahoma State regained the lead on a four-play, 80-yard drive, capped off by Woods? 51-yard touchdown reception from Fields.
The deficit was short-lived as Southern Miss scored on the opening drive of the second half. Walley crossed on a two-yard option run off a pitch by Almond with 11:50 left in the third quarter.
Southern Miss ends the 2002 season with a 7-6 record. Oklahoma State concludes with an 8-5 record, as well as winning its fourth-straight contest.
