University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
3-3 , 1-1
Arkansas State
2-5 , 1-3
Southern Miss Rallies Past Arkansas State to Secure Homecoming Win
10/15/2022 11:29:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Frank Gore, Jr. and Janari Dean had fourth-quarter touchdown runs and Southern Miss rallied to beat Arkansas State 20-19 on Saturday night.
Arkansas State used James Blackman's 9-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Foreman and a safety to take a 19-7 lead after three quarters.
Southern Miss (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) pulled within five points on Gore's 30-yard scoring run to finish off a nine-play, 95-yard drive with 9:20 remaining in the game.
The Golden Eagles' defense forced a three-and-out and and Natrone Brooks' 30-yard punt return set Southern Miss up at the Red Wolves' 45-yard line. Jake Lange directed a 12-play drive with Dean giving the Golden Eagles the lead on a 3-yard run with 2:12 left to play.
Arkansas State (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) turned the ball over on downs after two false-start penalties and a sack by the Golden Eagles' Jalil Clemons left the Red Wolves in a fourth-and-27 hole.
Zach Wilcke completed 11 of 20 passes for 132 yards with two interceptions for Southern Miss. His 23-yard scoring strike to Jason Brownlee late in the second quarter left Southern Miss trailing 10-7 at halftime. Gore totaled 96 yards on 19 carries. Lange completed 6 of 12 passes for 45 yards after coming off the bench.
Blackman completed 25 of 34 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves managed just 50 yards on the ground on 31 rushes.
Southern Miss travels to Texas State for a Sun Belt West Division contest on Oct. 22. Kickoff from San Marcos, Texas is slated for 4 p.m.
Team Stats
ASU 7, USM 0
ASU - Foreman,Jeff 22 yd pass from Blackman,James (Zvada,Dominic kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:05
ASU 10, USM 0
ASU - Zvada,Dominic 31 yd field goal 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:11
ASU 10, USM 7
USM - Brownlee,Jason 23 yd pass from Wilcke,Zach (Bourgeois,Briggs kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:08
ASU 17, USM 7
ASU - Foreman,Jeff 9 yd pass from Blackman,James (Zvada,Dominic kick) 10 plays, 79 yards, TOP 04:59
ASU 19, USM 7
ASU - 0 yd safety
ASU 19, USM 14
USM - Gore,Frank 30 yd run (Bourgeois,Briggs kick), 9 plays, 95 yards, TOP 02:58
ASU 19, USM 20
USM - Dean,Janari 3 yd run (), 12 plays, 45 yards, TOP 05:54
