University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
0-2 , 0-1
Louisiana Tech
1-0 , 1-0
Southern Miss Falls to Louisiana Tech in Final Minute
9/19/2020 11:11:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- Griffin Hebert made a 4-yard touchdown catch underneath the goal post with 14 seconds left as Louisiana Tech rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Southern Miss 31-30 on Saturday night in a Conference USA opener.
On fourth down, Luke Anthony scrabbled around the pocket and then tossed the ball to Hebert, who made a two-handed jumping catch while being pushed by two defenders out of bounds. Herbert kept his left foot just inside the end zone. The play was initially ruled incomplete and reversed after a lengthy review.
Jack Abraham was 24-of-32 passing for 264 yards with three touchdowns and an interception for the Golden Eagles (0-2, 0-1). Tim Jones had eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
Anthony was 13 of 21 for 149 yards with three touchdown passes for Louisiana Tech in its season opener. Hebert finished with five catches for 48 yards including a 5-yard touchdown from starting quarterback Aaron Allen.
Trailing 27-10 midway through the third quarter, Anthony threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Hardy. Anthony then tossed a 35-yard touchdown pass to Smoke Harris, who made an over-the-shoulder catch between two defenders that pulled the Bulldogs to 27-24 at the end of the third quarter.
It was interim coach Scott Walden's debut for the Golden Eagles.Â
Team Stats
TECH 7, USM 0
TECH - HEBERT, Griffin 5 yd pass from ALLEN, Aaron (BARNES, Jacob kick) 15 plays, 79 yards, TOP 7:09
TECH 7, USM 6
USM - PERKINS, Kevin 1 yd run (DRIVER, N. rushfailed), 11 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:49
TECH 10, USM 6
TECH - BARNES, Jacob 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 5:52
TECH 10, USM 13
USM - JONES, Tim 74 yd pass from ABRAHAM, Jack (BOURGEOIS, B. kick) 1 plays, 74 yards, TOP 0:24
TECH 10, USM 20
USM - JONES, Tim 20 yd pass from ABRAHAM, Jack (BOURGEOIS, B. kick) 1 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:09
TECH 10, USM 27
USM - BROWNLEE, Jason 5 yd pass from ABRAHAM, Jack (BOURGEOIS, B. kick) 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:51
TECH 17, USM 27
TECH - HARDY, Adrian 32 yd pass from ANTHONY, Luke (BARNES, Jacob kick) 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:05
TECH 24, USM 27
TECH - HARRIS, Smoke 35 yd pass from ANTHONY, Luke (BARNES, Jacob kick) 4 plays, 46 yards, TOP 1:10
TECH 24, USM 30
USM - BOURGEOIS, B. 37 yd field goal 13 plays, 57 yards, TOP 5:51
TECH 31, USM 30
TECH - HEBERT, Griffin 4 yd pass from ANTHONY, Luke (BARNES, Jacob kick) 17 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:52
