Southern Miss
1-8 , 0-5
North Texas
3-6 , 2-3
Southern Miss Falls to North Texas at Home
11/6/2021 7:45:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – North Texas scored 38 unanswered points to rally and defeat Southern Miss 38-14 Saturday afternoon in Conference USA West Division action at Carlisle-Faulker Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
The Golden Eagles fell to 1-8 overall and 0-5 in Conference USA play, while the Mean Green improved to 3-6, 2-3.
Southern Miss jumped out to a 14-0 advantage as the squad took their first possession 66 yards on five plays, which culminated in a 17-yard pass from freshman Jake Lange to Jason Brownlee.
The drive started on a nine-yard pass from Lange to Grayson Gunter, before Frank Gore, Jr., raced 38 yards into Mean Green territory. Gore, Jr., finished the contest with 82 yards rushing on 12 carries, while Lange threw for 116 yards on 17-of-25 attempts.
Brownlee added four catches for 53 yards.
The Golden Eagles increased their advantage on North Texas' next possession as Jay Stanley picked off an Austin Aune pass and returned to 55 yards for a score. It was the first time a Golden Eagle returned a pick for a score since DQ Thomas returned a UAB pass 55 yards in 2019.
North Texas, though, used their ground game to eat up the clock as they tallied 321 yards on the ground and held the football for 34 minutes, 14 seconds. In all, the Mean Green collected 537 total yards.
The Golden Eagles took the momentum into the locker room at halftime as they stopped the Mean Green at the goal line on the last play of the half to take a 14-7 lead at intermission.
In the second half, Ikaika Ragsdale recorded two third-quarter touchdowns – from 2 and 44 – yards to take lead for good. Isaiah Johnson led all rushers with 119 yards on 17 carries with a score, while Ragsdale ended the contest with 112 yards on 15 carries.
The Mean Green also added a pair of touchdowns on fumble returns in the second half.
The Golden Eagles return to the road next weekend when they travel to nationally ranked UTSA. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. from the Alamodome.
Team Stats
UNT 0, USM 7
USM - Brownlee,Jason 17 yd pass from Lange,Jake (Bourgeois,Briggs kick) 5 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:55
UNT 0, USM 14
USM - Stanley,Jay 55 yd interception (Bourgeois,Briggs kick)
UNT 7, USM 14
UNT - Johnson,Isaiah 8 yd run (Mooney,Ethan kick), 11 plays, 83 yards, TOP 04:36
UNT 14, USM 14
UNT - Ragsdale,Ikaika 2 yd run (Mooney,Ethan kick), 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:36
UNT 21, USM 14
UNT - Ragsdale,Ikaika 44 yd run (Mooney,Ethan kick), 4 plays, 59 yards, TOP 01:34
UNT 28, USM 14
UNT - Murphy,Grayson 37 yd fumble recovery (Mooney,Ethan kick)
UNT 31, USM 14
UNT - Mooney,Ethan 28 yd field goal 15 plays, 71 yards, TOP 06:29
UNT 38, USM 14
UNT - Davis,KD 43 yd fumble recovery (Mooney,Ethan kick)
