University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Set To Open Conference USA Action At East Carolina
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
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East Carolina-Southern Miss Game Notes
Football Set To Open Conference USA Action At East Carolina
Senior Kevis Coley leads the Golden Eagle defense with 17 tackles on the season. |
Senior quarterback Dustin Almond has tossed four touchdowns this season, two in each of the team's games. |
Senior Antwon Courington has a team-high 13 catches on the season and has caught at least one pass in 25 consecutive games. |
HATTIESBURG, Miss.? With no hurricane in the forecast, Southern Miss will play its third game of the 2005 season Saturday, as it opens Conference USA action at East Carolina. It will be the Conference USA opener for both schools.
Southern Miss was scheduled to open its season at home on Sept. 4 against Tulane, but Hurricane Katrina forced the game to be rescheduled for Nov. 26. The Golden Eagles got their season under way on Sept. 10 at
The two schools will meet for the 31st time on Saturday with Southern Miss holding a 23-7 series advantage. In Conference
Southern Miss (1-1) enters the game averaging 327.5 yards of total offense per game (103.0 rushing, 224.5 passing). The team has scored 69 points on the season, averaging 34.5 per contest, which ranks No. 24 nationally and first in Conference
Senior quarterback Dustin Almond has completed 29-of-52 passes (55.8 percent) on the season for 372 yards and four touchdowns, against three interceptions. He averages 186 passing yards per contest, which ranks No. 6 in Conference
Redshirt sophomore running back Larry Thomas leads the team with 138 rushing yards on 34 carries this season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and 69 yards a game, ranking No. 6 in Conference
Courington leads the receivers with 13 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per catch and 65.5 per contest. He has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games. Thomas ranks second on the team with four catches for 70 yards, averaging 17.5 per reception. Perine has three catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns and has the team?s longest reception, a 37-yarder against
Luke Johnson has punted nine times for 395 yards, averaging 43.9 yards per punt, which ranks second in Conference
Defensively, the Golden Eagles have posted 120 total tackles (80 solos, 40 assists), 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The defense limits opponents to 363 yards of total offense per contest (107 on the ground, 256 through the air).
Senior Kevis Coley leads the defense with 17 total tackles (10 solos, seven assists). His twin brother, Trevis Coley ranks second on the team with 11 total tackles (seven solos, four assists). Redshirt sophomore Robert Henderson leads the team with three tackles for loss and two sacks. Trevis Coley, John Eubanks and Gerald McRath each have single interceptions, with McRath returning his 32 yards for a touchdown against
East Carolina (1-2) enters the game off a tough 20-15 loss at
The Pirates enter the game averaging 345 yards of total offense per contest (100.7 on the ground, 244.3 through the air). The Pirates have scored 73 points on the season and score 24.3 per contest, and also have converted on 12-of-44 third down conversions.
James Pinkney leads the team with 731 passing yards, completing 57-of-99 passes for five touchdowns against only one interception. He averages 243.7 passing yards per game and has a long completion of 59 yards on the year.
Chris Johnson is the team?s top running back, with 55 carries for 259 yards on the season. He has one touchdown, but averages 4.7 yards per carry and 86.3 yards a game.
Aundra Allison leads the receiving core with 28 catches for 444 yards, averaging 15.9 yards a catch and four touchdowns. He averages 148 receiving yards a contest, which ranks No. 2 in the nation and first in Conference
Ryan Dougherty has 19 punts for 750 yards on the season, averaging 39.5 yards per punt. Robert Lee has connected on made all six of his field goal attempts, with a long of 51 yards on the season.
Defensively, the Pirates have 227 total tackles on the season (155 solos, 72 assists), 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seen interceptions, eight pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The unit allows 361.3 yards of total offense per game (232 rushing, 129.3 passing).
Chris Moore leads the team with 32 total tackles (19 solos, 13 assists) and six tackles for loss. Zach Baker leads the team with three interceptions, but Kasey Ross leads the team with four pass breakups. Shauntae Hunt and Marcus Hands each have a team-high two sacks apiece.
Following the East Carolina game, Southern Miss returns home to face
