Southern Miss
4-3 , 2-1
Louisiana Tech
6-1 , 3-0
Louisiana Tech Outlasts Southern Miss, 45-30
10/19/2019 10:19:00 PM | Football
Amik Robertson intercepted three passes, Ezekiel Barnett returned another for a game-clinching touchdown, and Louisiana Tech beat Southern Miss 45-30 on Saturday.
Louisiana Tech (6-1, 3-0 Conference USA) held the Golden Eagles (4-3, 2-1) to three points in the second half and took over sole possession of first place in Conference USA's West Division.
Louisiana Tech quarterback J'Mar Smith threw for 325 yards, with 212 of those going to Malik Stanley.
Smith completed 14 of 21 passes with one touchdown — a 56-yarder to Stanley — and an interception. Smith also scored on a quarterback sneak early in the fourth quarter to give Louisiana Tech the lead for good.
Justin Henderson had 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs.
Southern Miss quarterback Jack Abraham was 26-of-40 passing for 327 yards and one touchdown, and also ran for a 37-yard touchdown, but threw four interceptions.
DeMichael Harris returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for the Golden Eagles.
Almost all of the highlights for Southern Miss came in the first half, though. After taking a 27-17 lead late in the first half, they were outscored 28-3 the rest of the way.
Abraham threw threw of his four interceptions in the fourth quarter. One of them was by Robertson in the end zone and led to a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Bobby Holly that put Louisiana Tech ahead 38-27 with 6:28 remaining.
Another was returned 30 yards by Barnett to make it 45-30 with 1:27 left. Robertson got one final pick on Southern Miss' last drive, with just over a minute to go.
Team Stats
USM 7, LATECH 0
USM - HARRIS, D. 100 yd kickoff return (STEIN, Andrew kick)
USM 14, LATECH 0
USM - LADNER, Ray 15 yd pass from ABRAHAM, Jack (STEIN, Andrew kick) 12 plays, 95 yards, TOP 5:46
USM 14, LATECH 7
LATECH - STANLEY, Malik 5 yd pass from SMITH, J'Mar (HALE, Bailey kick) 14 plays, 86 yards, TOP 6:44
USM 14, LATECH 14
LATECH - HENDERSON, J. 30 yd run (HALE, Bailey kick), 1 plays, 30 yards, TOP 0:06
USM 21, LATECH 14
USM - ABRAHAM, Jack 37 yd run (STEIN, Andrew kick), 9 plays, 81 yards, TOP 4:11
USM 21, LATECH 17
LATECH - HALE, Bailey 50 yd field goal 5 plays, 22 yards, TOP 1:14
USM 24, LATECH 17
USM - STEIN, Andrew 28 yd field goal 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:42
USM 27, LATECH 17
USM - STEIN, Andrew 46 yd field goal 4 plays, -5 yards, TOP 1:55
USM 27, LATECH 24
LATECH - HENDERSON, J. 2 yd run (HALE, Bailey kick), 6 plays, 90 yards, TOP 1:28
USM 27, LATECH 31
LATECH - SMITH, J'Mar 1 yd run (HALE, Bailey kick), 10 plays, 36 yards, TOP 5:01
USM 27, LATECH 38
LATECH - HOLLY, Bobby 1 yd run (HALE, Bailey kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:55
USM 30, LATECH 38
USM - STEIN, Andrew 41 yd field goal 10 plays, 52 yards, TOP 2:52
USM 30, LATECH 45
LATECH - BARNETT, E. 30 yd interception (HALE, Bailey kick)
