University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
The Greatest Game in the Series – Rice
7/26/2018 3:40:00 PM | 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 look 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 Rice, who the Golden Eagles entertain to open up Conference USA season, Saturday, Sept. 22, in a 6 p.m., CT contest at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
The greatest game in the series, though, goes back to the 2011 campaign as the program was on its way to a school-record 12-win season and Conference USA championship. The Golden Eagles were searching for a much-needed C-USA victory at home against the Owls after losing its league opener a few weeks before on the road at Marshall.
Having lost the previous two ever meetings with the Owls, the Golden Eagles' Austin Davis threw for 284 yards and three touchdowns, while Kendrick Hardy rushed for 172 yards and Southern Miss scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half to turn a tight game into a 48-24 rout over Rice at Roberts Stadium.
Southern Miss gained what was then a school-record 654 total yards, including 370 on the ground, but four turnovers kept Rice in the game. The Owls scored twice on fumble recoveries, including a 96-yard return by Xavier Webb that briefly gave Rice a 24-20 lead early in the third quarter.
"If you don't have something in your chest or that tough makeup, you might lay down after that," then Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said after the game that night. "Not this bunch, they are going to keep fighting."
The Owls simply couldn't stop Southern Miss' offense. The Golden Eagles kept churning away with big gains on the ground, even as Hardy and backup Jamal Woodyard left the game with injuries. The Golden Eagles scored the final 28 points in the second half on three rushing scores and one passing touchdown to pull away in the contest.
Kelvin Bolden caught nine passes for 132 yards and a touchdown for Southern Miss while Ryan Balentine caught seven for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Rice struggled from the first play, when Southern Miss linebacker Jamie Collins darted through the defensive line and slammed running back Sam McGuffie to the turf for an 8-yard loss. The rest of the night was the same for the Owls, who failed to generate much offense unless Southern Miss gift-wrapped a turnover.
Rice led 14-13 after a first quarter that featured four touchdowns in the last 5 minutes -- including two in the final 5 seconds.
Southern Miss looked like it might blow Rice right off the field at first, taking a 13-0 lead after Hardy's 47-yard touchdown run and Balentine's 46-yard touchdown catch.
The Owls recovered in a hurry. McHargue hit Vance McDonald for a 2-yard touchdown with 5 seconds remaining in the quarter, and then the Owls scored again as time expired after Southern Miss fumbled the kickoff. Michael Kutzler recovered and ran it back 17 yards for the touchdown and 14-13 lead.
Southern Miss took a 20-17 lead into halftime after cornerback Marquese Wheaton recovered a fumble and ran 75 yards for the touchdown.
