University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Carter Will Start Cincinnati Game
9/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Carter Will Start Cincinnati Game HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Following an eye-catching, fourth-quarter appearance in Thursday night's game against Nebraska, freshman quarterback Damion Carter was tabbed as the Golden Eagle starter for Southern Miss' Oct. 4 game at Cincinnati. Head Coach Jeff Bower made that announcement today, following a lengthy afternoon workout. "Damion's performance in that game earned him the opportunity," Bower said. "I really don't have any doubts about starting a true freshman. You saw him. He showed more poise in the game than probably any freshman quarterback I've ever seen." Carter came on five minutes into the fourth quarter of the Nebraska game and proceeded to take the Eagles on a 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive that equalled the longest drive of the year for the Eagles. In that drive, he completed his first six passes and 10-of-12 during the drive, including a 6-yard strike to another freshman, Caleb Hendrix, for Southern Miss' second touchdown of the game. He also had two rushes in that drive for another seven yards. Carter finished his first game as a Golden Eagles with 14-of-17 passing for 143 yards and a touchdown. Several players were slowed during the Friday afternoon workout, most with the typical "bumps and bruises" associated with a game such as Nebraska. Junior running back Timmy Blackwell, who led the Eagle rushers against Nebraska with 47 yards on 10 carries, and a touchdown, has an injured ankle he suffered in the game and will have that injury evaluated over the weekend. Following the Friday practice, Golden Eagle players will take most of the weekend off, before reporting back to campus for Sunday night study hall sessions. Southern Miss will get back into Conference USA play with the game at Cincinnati and then play the following Saturday (Oct. 11) at Alabama before finally returning home for an Oct. 25 home game against South Florida.
