University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss powers past Memphis, 33-14
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Southern Miss powers past Memphis, 33-14
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? The Southern Miss offense had a big night as it rushed for 356 yards and gained 524 yards of total offense to lead the Golden Eagles to the 33-14 Conference USA win over Memphis, Saturday, at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Senior running back Derrick Nix gained 196 yards and scored two touchdowns, while redshirt-freshman running back Anthony Harris had career highs in both carries (27) and rushing yards (127) as Southern Miss improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Tigers fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the C-USA.
?I?m really proud of our football team,? Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower said. ?I thought we really played well in all three phases in the first half. We were really productive tonight.?
The two 100-yard performances by Nix and Harris mark the first time that two Golden Eagle running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game since Nix and Dawayne Woods accomplished that feat against Louisville on Oct. 10, 1998.
Nix opened the scoring as he scored on a 2-yard run in the closing minutes of the first quarter. The rush capped a 13-play, 96-yard drive by the Golden Eagles. Curt Jones added the extra point to give Southern Miss the 7-0 lead.
Jones pushed the lead further when he connected on a 30-yard field goal with 9:50 remaining in the first half.
However, Memphis quickly cut the lead to three points after Antoine Harden took a Danny Wimprine pass and raced untouched for a 72-yard score with 5:08 left in the second quarter. The long pass play was the first passing touchdown that the Golden Eagles have given up this season.
But Southern Miss answered on the next drive as Nix galloped 70 yards for his second touchdown of the game. The touchdown was Nix?s seventh of the season and 26th rushing touchdown of his career, tying him for fourth place overall on the school?s all-time list.
The Golden Eagles kept the pressure up over the remainder of the half, forcing Memphis into a safety with 3:33 remaining and then scoring on a Micky D?Angelo-to-Marvin Young 24-yard touchdown combination in the closing seconds of the half.
Harris then scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a 4-yard rush with 9:34 left in the third quarter.
Memphis tallied its final score on Maurice Avery?s 2-yard run in the final minutes of the third period.
Nix led all players with 204 yards of total offense. D?Angelo finished with 168 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 17-of-25 passing. LeRoy Handy topped the Golden Eagles with six catches for 67 yards.
Rod Davis and Michael Boley anchored Southern Miss with eight tackles each, as Boley led with five solo stops. Alex Ray led the team with two pass breakups and one interception.
DeAngelo Williams paced Memphis with 105 yards rushing on 11 carries, while Wimprine finished with 153 passing and one touchdown on 9-of-15.
The Tigers? Coot Terry led all players with 15 tackles, including 11 assists. Greg Harper followed with 13 tackles.
Southern Miss opens a three-game road swing as it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face Alabama next week. Kickoff for the game is set for 6 p.m.
