Southern Miss
North Alabama
Perkins' Three TDs Lead Eagles over North Alabama
11/7/2020 5:54:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- Kevin Perkins broke one tackle at the line of scrimmage and spun out of another, scoring his career-high third touchdown of the game as Southern Miss rallied past North Alabama 24-13 on Saturday.
Two plays after Perkins' third TD, Natrone Brooks snagged his first career interception, setting up a 38-yard Briggs Bourgeois field goal with 1:33 remaining to ice the win.
"It's great to win," said Southern Miss interim coach Tim Billings. "Our kids handled adversity very well today and could've given up. They played well, and I was excited about our offense in the fourth quarter. I told the defense it's nice to see the Nasty Bunch back. It's the best they've played all year, and they played with enthusiasm and excitement. They kept us in the game until offensively we got rolling in the fourth quarter."
Outscoring North Alabama 17-0 in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles (2-5) halted a two-game skid and won their first game at home this season. The win is also the first for Billings at Southenrn Miss.
Frank Gore Jr. rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries to lead a 245-yard ground game for Southern Miss, registering his second 100-yard game of the season. The Lions were held to 23 yards rushing, as the Golden Eagles limited an opponent to that few of rushing yards since holding Rice to 8 yards last season..
North Alabama (0-3), playing its first game since Oct. 17, nursed a 10-7 lead into halftime after Mike Boykin blocked a 28-yard Bourgeois field goal attempt.
The FCS Lions, in their third season transitioning from Division II, end their COVID-shortened four-game season with a 1,681-mile road trip to face BYU in Provo, Utah Nov. 21.
Blake Dever completed 21 of 28 passes for 153 yards and a score for North Alabama.
The Golden Eagles return to action next Saturday when they travel to WKU. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., from Bowling Green, Ky.
