Football Completes Season with Florida Atlantic
12/9/2020 8:00:00 AM | Football
Game 10
Southern Miss (2-7, 1-4) vs. Florida Atlantic (5-2, 4-1)
Hattiesburg, Miss. | The Rock (9,000 in 2020)
Dec. 10, 2020 | 5:30 pm CT | CBS Sports Network
TV - CBS SN
Play-By-Play - Jason Knapp
Analyst - Corey Chavous
Radio - Southern Miss IMG Sports Network
Play-By-Play John Cox (43rd season)
Analyst - Lee Roberts (6th season)
Sidelines - Dr. Bo Morgan (11th season)
Live Stats - www.SouthernMiss.com
Series Record - Florida Atlantic leads 2-0 (History)
Last Meeting - L, 34-17 at Boca Raton (Nov. 30, 2019)
The Florida Atlantic Series
• Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic have played twice previously in their respective football histories with the Owls garnering a 41-7 decision in Hattiesburg on Nov. 16, 2013 and a 34-17 win in Boca Raton in 2019.
• That opening game was Florida Atlantic’s first year in Conference USA. Southern Miss played both Florida Atlantic and FIU at home that season and had not met either team again until the meeting with the Owls in the final weekend of last year’s regular season.
Series Breakdown
Record in Hattiesburg: 0-1
Record in Boca Raton: 0-1
Neutral Site Games: Never Met
Most Points Scored: 17 (11-30-19)
Fewest Points Scored: 7 (11-16-13)
Largest Margin of Victory: 0
Largest Loss Margin: 34 (11-16-13)
Longest Winning Streak: 0
Longest Losing Streak: 2 (2013-19)
Current Streak: Lost 2
Shutouts: 0
Games Decided By 7 or fewer points: 0-0
In C-USA Games: 0-2
Notes from the UTSA Contest
• That setback marked the first time that Southern Miss had lost back-to-back games by three points or less since 2005. Southern Miss dropped games at Houston (11/13), 27-24, and to Memphis (11/19), 24-22.
• The Golden Eagle defense has not allowed more than 23 points in each of the last three games, after giving up 30 or more points in each of the first six games.
• Tim Jones moved into fifth place on the Southern Miss career charts for receptions after collecting five passes for 65 yards against the Roadrunners. In his four-year career, Jones has tallied 144 catches moving ahead of RB Ito Smith (2014-17) in that career category. He needs 108 yards receiving against the Owls to tie with Shawn Nelson (2005-08) for No. 5 on the career chart for receiving yards.
Southern Miss Career Reception Leaders
1. Sherrod Gideon (1996-99) - 193
2. Quez Watkins (2017-19) - 159
3. Shawn Nelson (2005-08) - 157
4. Todd Pinkston (1996-99) - 149
5. Tim Jones (2017-20) - 144
• Frank Gore, Jr., registered 127 yards from scrimmage (70 rushing, 57 receiving) to lead the Golden Eagles offense. His production also included his first TD catch, coming from 51 yards, marking the longest reception of his career
• Quarterback Tate Whatley posted a career-high 272 passing yards in the game and threw for two touchdowns. The 51-yard scoring pass to Gore was his second longest throw of his career.
• Malik Shorts posted nine tackles including six solos - one for loss - as well as his first interception of the season. He has seven or more tackles in seven games this season and nine or more six times. Shorts ranks second on the team in tackles with 73.
• Briggs Bourgeois made both of his field goal attempts - 37 and 27 yards - to improve to 11-of-15 this season.
Looking Ahead
Here is a look at non-conference games over the next few seasons (please note opponents and dates subject to change):
2021
9/4 - at South Alabama
9/18 - Troy
9/25 - at Alabama
2022
9/3 - Liberty
9/10 - at Miami (Fla.)
9/17 - Northwestern State
9/24 - at Tulane
2023
9/9 at Florida State
9/16 - Tulane
11/18 - at Miss. State
2024
9/21 - at Troy
