Southern Miss
1-0 , 0-0
Alcorn State
0-1 , 0-0
Football Opens Season with 40-14 Victory over Alcorn State
9/2/2023 10:39:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) — Billy Wiles threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns and Southern Miss was never threatened in a 40-14 season-opening win over Alcorn State on Saturday night at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium..
The Golden Eagles' Jay Stanley came up with the first of two interceptions against Alcorn State quarterback Tyler Macon on the second play from scrimmage. Southern Miss took advantage and went up 7-0 when Wiles threw a 16-yard score to Jakarius Caston. After forcing the Braves to three-and-out, Frank Gore Jr. ended a seven-play, 63-yard drive for a two-score lead on a 9-yard rush. Gore later added a 2-yard scoring reception from Wiles later in the opening half.
After a field goal put the Eagles up 17-0, with 3:50 left in the first quarter, Macon raced 75 yards for a touchdown for Alcorn State's biggest highlight of the contest. The play accounted for a third of the Braves' yardage total (226).
Wiles, who was making his first start for the Golden Eagles, finished 21-of-28 passing and Caston finished with five receptions for 104 yards and a score. It was Caston's first 100-yard receiving game of his career.
Stanley registered the first multiple interception game for the Golden Eagles since Ky'el Hemby collected two picks versus UTEP on Nov. 24, 2018.
Golden Eagle kicker Andrew Stein went four-for-four in field goal attempts, hitting from 25, 23, 52 and 41 yards. It was the first time since the 2019 season, spanning 1,371 days, that he attempted a field goal for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss returns to action next weekend when they travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to take on nationally ranked Florida State.
Team Stats
ASU 0, USM 7
USM - Caston,Jakarius 16 yd pass from Wiles,Billy (Stein,Andrew kick) 3 plays, 53 yards, TOP 01:25
ASU 0, USM 14
USM - Gore,Frank 9 yd run (Stein,Andrew kick), 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:33
ASU 0, USM 17
USM - Stein,Andrew 25 yd field goal 6 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:23
ASU 7, USM 17
ASU - Macon,Tyler 75 yd run (Kiani,Noah kick), 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:13
ASU 7, USM 24
USM - Gore,Frank 2 yd pass from Wiles,Billy (Stein,Andrew kick) 14 plays, 65 yards, TOP 07:54
ASU 7, USM 27
USM - Stein,Andrew 23 yd field goal 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 04:21
ASU 7, USM 30
USM - Stein,Andrew 52 yd field goal 6 plays, yards, TOP 02:57
ASU 7, USM 37
USM - Henderson,Tyquan 3 yd pass from Wiles,Billy (Stein,Andrew kick) 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:39
ASU 14, USM 37
ASU - Duffey,Niko 15 yd run (Kiani,Noah kick), 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 04:22
ASU 14, USM 40
USM - Stein,Andrew 41 yd field goal 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 04:36
