University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Set To 'Battle For The Bell'
11/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss closes out its 2005 regular-season Saturday, hosting Tulane in a 2 p.m., contest, as the two schools `Battle For Bell.'
Saturday will also be senior day for 15 Golden Eagle seniors, Dustin Almond, Pedi Causey, Ricardo Clark, Kevis Coley, Trevis Coley, Antwon Courington, John Eubanks, Terrance Ford, Luke Johnson, Tom Johnson, Akeem Lockett, Neal Mead, Howard Overby, Kendel Wheeler and Bradly Worthington.
The two teams were originally scheduled to meet in the season opener on Sept. 4, but Hurricane Katrina forced the game to be moved. Both Southern Miss and Tulane have been affected by Katrina, as Tulane has been displaced from its school.
The Green Wave has spent the semester at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., and have played `home' games in Monroe, La., Shreveport, La., Mobile, Ala., Ruston, La., Baton Rouge, La., and Lafayette, La. Tulane has played 10 games in 10 different stadiums, with Saturday's game, will match an NCAA record first set by Southern Miss in 1975, as the Golden Eagles, with Head Coach Jeff Bower at quarterback, played all 11 games in different stadiums due to the renovations of M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Southern Miss spent eight days on the campus of the University of Memphis, after food, water and basic necessities were in limited supply.
Saturday's game will be the 27th meeting between the two schools, with Southern Miss holding a 19-7 series advantage. The team has won the past two meetings, including the last meeting in Hattiesburg, 28-14 in 2003. Southern Miss has won the past five meetings in Hattiesburg, and own a 10-3 advantage in Hattiesburg. Tulane's last win in Hattiesburg came in the 1993 season, a 17-15 victory.
Southern Miss enters Saturday's game with a 5-5 overall record, and looks to have a non-losing season for the 12th straight year with a win.
The offense has scored 298 points on the season, averaging 29.8 points per game, ranking No. 3 in Conference USA and No. 41 nationally. The team has amassed 3,431 yards of total offense on the season (1,008 rushing, 2,423 passing), averages 343.1 yards of total offense per game (100.8 rushing, 242.3 passing), ranking No. 9 in Conference USA in total offense. The team has converted on 55-of-144 on third downs (38 percent).
Senior quarterback Dustin Almond has completed 181-of-332 passes for 2,331 yards and 20 touchdowns, against 12 interceptions. He averages 233.1 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 5 in Conference USA. Almond's 20 touchdowns are the third most by a Golden Eagle quarterback in a season, and his passing yardage ranks fourth most. He currently ranks No. 7 in Conference USA and No. 52 nationally in total offense (222.20).
Redshirt sophomore Cody Hull will start at running back on Saturday. Hull ranks second on the team with 296 rushing yards on 70 attempts, with two touchdowns, averaging yards per carry. Redshirt sophomore Larry Thomas leads the team with 166 carries for 684 yards and four touchdowns.
Junior Anthony Perine leads the team with 28 catches for 381 yards, averaging 13.6 yards per catch. Junior Josh Barnes has scored five touchdown in the past five games, and ranks second on the team with 26 catches for 34 9 yards and five receiving touchdowns, along with one rushing score. Redshirt freshman tight end Shawn Nelson has 24 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
Redshirt junior Jasper Faulk has 20 punt returns for 166 yards, while senior John Eubanks has 26 kickoff returns for 632 yards.
Senior Luke Johnson has 46 punts for 2,078 yards, averaging 45.2 yards per punt, helping the punting unit rank No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 8 nationally in net punting (38.22). Junior Darren McCaleb has made 18-of-23 field goals. His 18 field goals set a school record for most in a season. McCaleb is currently tied with former Golden Eagle standout Sammy Winder (1978-81) for the school's all-time scoring record of 234. McCaleb currently ranks No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 6 nationally in field goals per game (1.80), also ranking No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 26 nationally in scoring (8.60).
Defensively, the Golden Eagles have 755 total tackles (439 solos, 316 assists), 61 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, 12 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries. The defense ranks No. 3 in turnover margin and No. 8 nationally (1.10).
Senior Kevis Coley leads the team with 133 total tackles (72 solos, 61 assists), 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, three fumble recoveries and is tied for the team lead with Tom Johnson in forced fumbles, ranking No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 4 nationally in total tackles. He also leads Conference USA in fumbles recovered. Senior Trevis Coley ranks second on the team with 91 total tackles (55 solos, 36 assists). Johnson ranks second on the squad with nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, while Brandon Sumrall has a team-high four interceptions.
Tulane enters Saturday's game with a 2-8 record, having lost its last seven games. The Green Wave has scored 227 points on the season, averaging 22.7 points per game. The team has amassed 3,264 yards of total offense (868 rushing, 2,396 passing), average 326.4 yards per game (86.8 yards rushing, 239.6 passing). Tulane also has converted 69-of-163 third downs (42 percent).
Quarterback Scott Elliott has started the past two games for Tulane, completing 45-of-86 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns against four interceptions. Lester Ricard leads the team with 1,823 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, against 10 interceptions.
Matt Forte leads the running backs with 518 rushing yards on 142 carries, while posting four touchdowns. Jovon Jackson has a team-high five rushing touchdowns, ranking second on the team with 428 rushing yards.
Preston Brown leads the receivers with 43 receptions for 640 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards per catch. Bubba Terranova has four touchdown receptions, along with 498 yards on 35 catches.
Israel Route leads the team with 18 punt returns for 181 yards, also leading the team with 23 kickoff returns for 512 yards and a touchdown.
Chris Beckman has 53 punts for 2,166 yards, averaging 40.9 yards per punt, while Jacob Hartgroves has connected on 4-of-5 field goals, including a long of 26 yards.
Defensively, the team has 730 total tackles (404 solos, 326 assists), 69 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and seven interceptions.
Anthony Cannon leads the team with 103 total tackles (51 solos, 52 assists) and 10 tackles for loss. Alvin Johnson has a team-high three tackles for loss, while Tra Boger leads the team with three interceptions.
Game time is set for 2 p.m., on Saturday.
