University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Hosts Southeastern La., In 2006 Home Opener
9/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team will look to get its first win of 2006 on Saturday, as it opens the home portion of its schedule, hosting Southeastern La., in a 6 p.m., at `The Rock'.
Saturday marks the 21st meeting between the two schools, and the first since the 1969 season. Southern Miss holds a 17-3 series advantage, winning the last 10 games in the series. The Golden Eagles own a 11-2 advantage over the Lions in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss (0-1), under the direction of Head Coach Jeff Bower, enters Saturday's game off a 34-7 loss to No. 7 Florida. In that game, junior Jeremy Young made his second career start, completing 13-27 passes for a touchdown and three interceptions. Junior Stephen Reaves completed 4-10 passes for 47 yards in the game.
Freshman running back Damion Fletcher finished with 18 carries for 89 yards in the game, including a long run of 28 yards. He finished with most rushing yards by a freshman running back since Vincent Alexander had 87 yards against Richmond in 1983. Fletcher also caught two passes for 38 yards, finishing with 128 yards of total offense in the game, the most by a freshman since J.C. Arban had 106 against Elon in 1955.
Sophomore tight end Shawn Nelson caught six passes for 85 yards against Floriday, tying his career-high in catches while posting the third-most yards in his career. Senior wide receiver caught the team's first touchdown of 2006, a six-yarder. Freshman wide receiver Rodney Gray caught two passes for 16 yards against Florida.
Sophomore Britt Barefoot punted four times for 183 yards against Florida, a 45.8-yard average.
Defensively, Brandon Sumrall, LeVance Richmond and Caleb Hendrix posted seven tackles against Florida, with Hendrix's tackles all being solos. Sumrall also registered a tackle for loss, a sack and an interception. Hendrx finished with two tackles for loss and a sack, while Martavius Prince also had two tackles for loss.
Southeastern La., (0-1) dropped its opening game to New Mexico State 30-15.
Quarterback Seth Babin completed 17-28 passes for 130 yard and a touchdown, against an interception in the game.
Jay Lucas finished with 96 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown against New Mexico State, also catching three passes for 18 yards.
Byron Ross caught a team-best five passes for 35 yards, including a long reception of 21 yards. Merrick Lanaux finished with two catches for 26 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown reception.
Jim Hall had four punts for 196 yards, averaging 49 yards per punt.
Defensively, Demoris Hardiman finished with 15 total tackles (four solos, 11 assists), including three tackles for loss. Anthony Richardson added 11 tackles (four solos, seven assists), with two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Micahel Johnson had four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a sack.
Following the Southeastern La., game, Southern Miss hosts N.C. State on Sept. 16, in a 6 p.m., contest in M.M. Roberts Stadium.
