Game Notes: Southern Miss vs. North Texas

Oct. 18, 2014

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery

Southern Miss Captains: 9 - Nick Mullens; 39 - Brian Anderson; 45 - Dasman McCullum; 47 - Nic Bekkers

Coin Flip: Southern Miss wins the toss and defers to the second half; USM will kick to start the game.

Attendance: 19,127

Team Notes:

The Golden Eagles made their first trip to Denton, Texas, since 1981 and first time with the Mean Green being a member of the Conference USA.
Southern Miss improved to 5-4 in the series with North Texas, having now won four of the last five games against the Mean Green.
The program won its first road game of the season and improves to 3-4 on the year.

Offensive Notes:

The Golden Eagles score a touchdown on their first drive of the year for the second time - the other time coming against Appalachian State - which was capped on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to Michael Thomas.
The duo have combined for three passing touchdowns in the last two games.
George Payne's five-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the fourth-straight game he has recorded a touchdown run. He has all five of Southern Miss' rushing scores this season.
Ito Smith registered a season-high 38 yard rush in the 3rd quarter, after tying his previous high of 19 earlier in the period.
Casey Martin registered his first career TD catch for the Golden Eagles of 19 yards with 1:52 left in the third period.
Nick Mullens threw for a touchdown in the fourth consecutive game, and has two of more TD strikes in the last three contests.
Mullens has thrown over 200 yards for the ninth-straight game and the 12th-time in his career and went over 300 yards for the second consecutive games - third for his career.
Junior Jalen Richard, in his first game since the season opener at Mississippi State, collected a career-best eight receptions for 71 yards.
The offense went over the 200-yard rushing plateau for the second time this season, finishing with 201.
Southern Miss finished the contest with a season-best 37:11.
The Golden Eagles finished the game with 506 yards of total offense, reaching the 500-yard plateau for the second-straight game (537 at Middle Tennessee) and for the second time this season.

Defensive Notes:

Senior Michael Smith had a 29-game starting streak snapped due to injury. Smith did not make the trip to North Texas.
Dasman McCullum registered the Golden Eagles lone sack of the contest late in the fourth quarter, collecting his team-high 4.5 sack of the contest.
The Golden Eagles finished the game with two sacks.
Senior Emmanuel Johnson collected a team-best seven tackles.
Junior Kalan Reed added his team-best fifth PBU in the game.

Special Team Notes:

Corey Acosta made his fourth, fifth and sixth field goal in a row versus the Mean Green to give him 14 made for the season. The 14 field goals are the most he has made in a season. Acosta has registered 38 career field goals which moves him into fourth place on the school career charts with Rex Banks (1983-86).
The Golden Eagles executed their first called fake punt in the third quarter and Tyler Sarrazin recorded a 12-yard run for a first down.
Acosta finished the game with a career-best five touchbacks on kickoffs in the contest.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Game Notes: Southern Miss vs. North Texas

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