Southern Miss Football vs. Appalachian State Game Notes

Sept. 20, 2014

Team Notes

Today's captains were quarterback Nick Mullens, place kicker Corey Acosta, offensive lineman Cameron Tom and defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches.
Appalachian State won the toss and deferred to the second half.
Today's attendance was 21,836.
Southern Miss is now 2-0 all-time against Appalachian State.
The Golden Eagles are now 61-18-1 all-time against the Sun Belt Conference.
Southern Miss has won two straight home games for the first time since 2011.

Offensive Notes

Running back Tez Parks made his first career start.
Quarterback Nick Mullens was 22-of-35 for 268 yards and a touchdown.
Mullen's interception in the third quarter snapped a streak of 12 consecutive quarters without a turnover.
Running back George Payne's 15-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter was the first Southern Miss rushing touchdown this year. It was also Southern Miss' first touchdown on the opening drive since last year against UAB.
Payne also had a three-yard touchdown in the second quarter. He now has three for his career.
Payne is the first player with multiple rushing touchdowns since Kendrick Hardy last year against UAB.
He finished with 12 carries for 35 yards.
Mullens also connected with Payne on a 31-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. It was Mullen's third touchdown of the year and 16th of his career. It was Payne's first catch of the year and first career receiving touchdown.
Payne is the first player with three all-purpose touchdowns since Austin Davis had four rushing against Houston in 2010.
Wide receiver Michael Thomas caught four passes for 71 yards, both career-highs.
Wide receiver James Cox caught a 30-yard pass in the first quarter, his longest of the year. He finished with two receptions for 60 yards.
Wide receiver Markese Triplett caught a 36-yard pass in the first quarter, his longest of the year. He finished with two receptions for 46 yards.

Defensive Notes

Defensive back Jomez Applewhite recorded his second interception of the season in the first quarter.
Defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches recorded his first sack of the year and the second of his career.
Defensive lineman Draper Riley recorded his first career sack in the third quarter.
Defensive lineman Dasman McCullum recorded his first fumble recovery of the year and the fifth of his career.
Defensive back Picasso Nelson, Jr. recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter.

Special Teams Notes

Defensive lineman Wil Freeman blocked Appalachian State's 36-yard field goal in the first quarter. It was his second career blocked field goal.
McCullum blocked an extra point at the end of the game. It was the first blocked extra point since Dylan Bradley at Marshall last year.

University of Southern Mississippi Athletics