University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Notes vs. Troy
9/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | USATSI Gallery 
| Photo Gallery
Southern Miss Captains: 9 â€" Nick Mullens, 32 â€"Xavier Thigpen, 37 â€" Sherrod Ruff
Coin Flip: Southern Miss won the flip and deferred to the second half. Southern Miss defended the north end zone.
Team Notes:
-Southern Miss' six-quarter scoreless streak ended when Troy scored in the first quarter on a 34-yard pass. Southern Miss scored 97 points in the scoreless streak.
-It was the first game between the two teams since the 2008 New Orleans Bowl, and the Golden Eagles prevailed 30-27 in overtime on Dec. 21.
Offensive Notes:
-Southern Miss (421-309) outgained its opponent for the third consecutive game.
-The offensive line has not allowed a sack in two games. It's the first-such streak since Oct. 8 and 22, 2011 at Navy and versus SMU, respectively.
-Ito Smith has gone seven straight games with a rushing touchdown. He has rushing touchdowns in six out of his last seven games and 12 career touchdowns.
-Nick Mullens has thrown a touchdown in 19 straight games. The last game he didn't throw a touchdown was Louisiana Tech on October 25, 2014.
-Mullens has thrown for 200 yards or more in 30 games.
Defensive Notes:
-Troy was held to 10-for-28 passing. Southern Miss has held its opponents to a 14-for-41 (.341) success rate through the air the last two games.
-Devonta Foster's 61-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the first quarter was Southern Miss' first since December 5, 2015 against Western Kentucky. It is the second of Foster's career. His first came against Louisiana Tech on November 28, 2015 and was 26 yards.
-Xavier Thigpen 16-yard tackle for loss is the longest of the 2016 season.
-Thigpen had 4.0 TFLs, more than he had on the season so far, and has 6.5 in 2016.
-Thigpen's feat was also the first for a Golden Eagle since Jamie Collins vs. UAB on Nov. 3, 2012.
-Dylan Bradley padded his team lead with a game-high nine tackles.
Special Team Notes:
-Parker Shaunfield has made four straight field goals to start the 2016 season. He was 2-for-5 last season.
