University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
3-8 , 2-5
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Mississippi State
5-6 , 1-6
Football Falls at Mississippi State 41-20 Saturday Afternoon
11/18/2023 3:31:00 PM | Football
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Kyle Ferrie hit four field goals for Mississippi State's as they pulled away late from in-state foe Southern Miss in a 41-20 win Saturday in a non-conference game.
Southern Miss gave the Bulldogs all they could handle five days after the firing of head coach Zach Arnett. Arnett was relieved of his duties on Monday morning..
Jakarius Caston single-handedly kept the Golden Eagles in the game after scoring a 44-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter and then returning a kickoff 98 yards with a little more than eight minutes left to reduce the deficit to 26-20.
The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6 SEC) countered with a 59-yard run to extend the lead with 7:14 remaining. Jett Johnson then sealed it with an interception that he flipped to safety Marcus Banks who took it 70 yards for a score.
MSU had 382 yards of offense with 238 on the ground. Will Rogers returned to the lineup for the first time since injuring his shoulder against Western Michigan on Oct. 7. Rogers was rusty but threw for two touchdowns on 12-of-27 passing.
Jeffery Pittman had 10 carries for 98 yards and a touchdown and Zavion Thomas had three catches for 66 yards. Tulu Griffin caught four passes for 32 yards and a score. The SEC's top two tacklers, Bookie Watson and Jett Johnson had 39 combined. Watson had 21 and Johnson 18.
USM had 246 yards of offense with running back Frank Gore gaining 66 yards on 22 carries and five receptions for 29 yards. Caston had two catches for 88 yards and a score receiving as well as the 98 yard kick return.
Team Stats
USM 7, MSU 0
USM - Gore,Frank 8 yd pass from Crawford,Ethan (Stein,Andrew kick) 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:47
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USM 7, MSU 3
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 48 yd field goal 4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 01:15
USM 7, MSU 10
MSU - Griffin,Lideatrick 8 yd pass from Rogers,Will (Ferrie,Kyle kick) 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 03:00
USM 7, MSU 13
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 29 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 01:07
USM 7, MSU 16
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 41 yd field goal 12 plays, 42 yards, TOP 03:59
USM 7, MSU 23
MSU - Marks,Jo'quavious 15 yd pass from Rogers,Will (Ferrie,Kyle kick) 5 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:39
USM 13, MSU 23
USM - Caston,Jakarius 44 yd pass from Wiles,Billy () 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:48
USM 13, MSU 26
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 30 yd field goal 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:04
USM 20, MSU 26
USM - Caston,Jakarius 98 yd kickoff return (Stein,Andrew kick)
USM 20, MSU 34
MSU - Pittman,Jeffery 59 yd run (Thomas,Zavion pass), 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:38
USM 20, MSU 41
MSU - Banks,Marcus 60 yd interception (Ferrie,Kyle kick)
