Football To Open Home Schedule Against McNeese State

Football To Open Home Schedule Against McNeese State

Senior Quarterback Dustin Almond tossed two touchdowns in the team's season opening game at Alabama.

Senior Antwon Courington caught eight passes for 80 yards against Alabama and has caught at least one pass in 24 consecutive games.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.? The Southern Miss football team opens the home portion of its schedule on Saturday, hosting Division I-AA power McNeese State in a 6 p.m., contest. Tickets are still available for Saturday?s game and can be purchased by calling the Southern Miss Ticket Office at 1-800-844-8425.

Southern Miss was originally scheduled to open its season on Sept. 4, hosting Tulane, but Hurricane Katrina forced that game to be rescheduled for Nov. 26.

Saturday?s game marks the first of five home games of the season for Southern Miss. The team will also play in M.M. Roberts Stadium on Oct. 8 against Tulsa (7 p.m.), Oct. 15 against UCF (homecoming, 6 p.m.), Nov. 19 against Memphis (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. 26 against Tulane (game time TBA).

This will be the second meeting between McNeese State and Southern Miss, as the Golden Eagles won the only previous meeting in the 1980 Independence Bowl, 16-14, which gave the school its first-ever bowl victory.

The Golden Eagles enter the contest after a 30-21 season-opening defeat at Alabama. After falling behind 10-0 early in the first quarter, redshirt freshman Gerald McRath intercepted a Brodie Croyle pass and returned it 32 yards for an interception, which gave the Golden Eagles their first touchdown against Alabama since 2002.

Following a 36-yard punt return by Jasper Faulk, quarterback Dustin Almond, who made his first career start against Alabama, found Anthony Perine on the game?s next play, to give the Golden Eagles a 14-10 lead, their first lead in 13 quarters against the Crimson Tide.

Southern Miss extended its lead to 21-10, after Almond found Perine for a 37-yard touchdown score, with10:19 remaining before halftime. Perine became the first Golden Eagle to score two touchdowns in a game since Marvin Young scored two against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003, and became the first receiver to score twice against Alabama since LeRoy Handy had two in the 2001 contest.

The Golden Eagles took a 21-17 lead at halftime, before the Crimson Tide scored the game?s final points to take the victory, as Southern Miss starts its season 0-1 for the first time since 2003 and lost the season opener for only the third time in the past six seasons.

Almond finished the game completing 15-of-30 passes for 190 yards, tossing two touchdowns against one interception. Redshirt sophomore Larry Thomas made the first start of his career against Alabama, finishing with 12 carries for 23 yards. Antwon Courington led all Golden Eagle receivers with eight catches for 80 yards, as he extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 24.

Defensively, Kevis Coley finished with a career-high 13 tackles (eight solos, five assists), while Trevis Coley posted eight tackles (four solos, four assists).

McNeese State (1-0) opened its season with a 23-20 road victory over then No. 5 Georgia Southern. The Cowboys also had their season opening game affected by Hurricane Katrina, as the team?s opening contest against Southern was cancelled.

Down 7-0 after the first quarter, McNeese State out scored Georgia Southern 16-6 in the second quarter to take a 16-13 halftime lead. Following a scoreless third quarter, Georgia Southern took a 20-16 lead with 11:40 remaining. McNeese then got a 40-yard touchdown pass from Chris Jones to Quinten Lawrence to seal the victory.

Jones completed 16-of-27 passes in the game for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Kris Bush finished with 23 carries for 105 yards, while Lawrence finished with three catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Carlese Franklin finished with four catches for 74 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown run.

Defensively, the Cowboys limited Georgia Southern to 291 yards in the game. Trey Bennett led the Cowboys with a game-high 14 tackles, including 1.5 sacks.

Following the McNeese State game, Southern Miss returns to action at Houston on Sept. 24, in a 6 p.m., contest.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Football To Open Home Schedule Against McNeese State

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