University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
The Greatest Games in the Series -- Appalachian State
7/13/2018 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss athletics looks at the greatest games in each of the playing series of all 12 opponents from its 2018 football schedule, giving Golden Eagle fans a weekly look this summer of what we consider to be the greatest game in history between the two respective programs features.
We will post these games on social media as well, and ask fans to agree or disagree with our selections as well as share their favorite memory from these games.
This week, the focus switches to Appalachian State, who the Golden Eagles take to the road and meet in Boone, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 16, in a 6 p.m., CT contest.
Heading into this season, there have only been two games played between the two schools -- both coming in the state of Mississippi and played 77 years apart. The Golden Eagles won the initial meeting in 1937 by the score of 7-0 in Gulfport, but the game we most remember, not by just its recentness, but by a blocked extra point in the final seconds in 2014 as a blocked an extra point with sixth second left proved to be the difference in a 21-20 victory at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Dasman McCullum's late blocked extra-point attempt helped overcome a Taylor Lamb a 2-yard touchdown pass to Simms McElfresh in the back corner of the end zone to get the Mountaineers a point away from sending the game into overtime. ASU place kicker Zach Matics, who had a field goal blocked and missed two others, had his extra point attempt swatted away by McCullum, capping a frantic final 8 minutes.
Appalachian State had tied the game at 14 on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Lamb to Malachi Jones with 5:08 to play.
But Southern Miss immediately responded, going 65 yards on six plays to take a 21-14 lead with 2:22 to play on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Nick Mullens to George Payne.
Payne also scored on runs of 15- and 3-yards in the first half to give the Golden Eagles a 14-7 halftime lead.
Mullens completed 22 of 35 passes for 268 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Appalachian State was playing its first year as a Football Bowl Subdivision member and outgained the Golden Eagles 455 total yards to 329 total, collecting 26 more offensive snaps and had nearly a 12-minute advantage in time of possession.
But Matics missed field goals of 43 yards and 42 yards and had 36-yarder blocked by defensive end Will Freeman. The Mountaineers also lost a red-zone opportunity when McCullum stripped Cox of the ball at the USM 7 on Appalachian State's first play following a Mullens' interception.
John Cox, who enters his 41st season as the Voice of the Golden Eagles this fall, remembers this game like this.
"One of the most exciting finishes in the history of Roberts Stadium," said Cox. "Two really good teams battling right down to the end trying to get a win and it comes down to a blocked extra point with just a few seconds left. Coach (Todd) Monken had preached to his players all week long that it might come down to the final play of the game and when it did, Das McCullum gave a great effort to block the tying extra point. The special teams were superb that day in all phases and that was without question the difference in the game."
