University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Eagles Travel to Kansas for Nationally Televised Contest
9/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 2009
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss will hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to face No. 20 Kansas in a matchup of unbeatens teams.
Game time is set for 11 a.m., and will be telecast nationally on Fox Sports Net, which includes Fox SportsSouth in Mississippi. The game also can be heard on the Southern Miss ISP Sports Network with flagship station WXRR-FM, Rock 104 (104.5), broadcasting the game locally.
This will be the first meeting for both schools in football as the Golden Eagles hold a 3-11 all-time record against the Big 12 Conference schools. The last time Southern Miss faced a team from the Big 12 was in 2004 when the Eagles defeated Nebraska, in Lincoln, Neb.
Larry Fedora's team will face a dominant offense powered by quarterback Todd Reesing. Reesing and the Jayhawks are currently third in the nation in total offense, averaging 538 yards per game. The Jayhawk senior also ranks No. 16 in the nation in total offense (307.0) and is aided by a dynamic pair of receivers in senior Kerry Meier and junior Dezmon Briscoe.
Briscoe caught 92 passes for 1407 yards and 15 touchdowns just a season ago.
On the defensive side, KU coach Mark Mangino team is no slouch. The Jayhawks are currently eighth in rushing defense (57.67) and sixth in scoring defense (8.67). Senior defensive back Darrell Stuckey was an All-Big 12 conference team selection and was a ball hawk last season. Stuckey intercepted five passes a year ago and is currently fifth on the team in total tackles this season.
The Eagles take to Lawrence an eight-game winning streak with the nation's second longest winning streak. Only Florida has more consecutive victories at 14.
During the winning streak, the Eagles have not let an opponent rush for more than 100 yards in any game. Last week, Southern Miss held Virginia to just 78 yards on the ground.
The Golden Eagles' defense ranks sixth nationally in rushing defense (51.67) and 17th nationally in total defense (251.67). The Golden Eagle secondary will need to continue their excellent performance and shut down the explosive Kansas offense to bring home their fourth victory of the season.
KU announced earlier this week that the game was officially a sellout.
