University of Southern Mississippi Athletics

Football Travels for Second Consecutive Week with Meeting at Louisiana
10/17/2025 9:30:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Southern Miss football team takes to the road for the second consecutive week as they travel to Lafayette this Saturday to face Louisiana in its first Sun Belt Conference West Division contest.
Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
The Golden Eagles enter the contest 4-2 overall as well as a 2-0 SBC mark, having won cross-divisional contests against both App State and Georgia Southern already this season. Southern Miss plays a Ragin' Cajun club that is 2-4 on the year and 1-1 in league play.
The fast start for Southern Miss can be best described with a high-octane offense to go along with a ball-hawking stingy defense.
On offense, the Golden Eagles are averaging 32.2 points per game. That average currently ranks as the sixth-best in a season in Southern Miss history.
The offense has run through senior quarterback Braylon Braxton that has helped the Golden Eagles put together 394.2 yards per contest. Braxton has thrown for 1,473 yards on 128-of-196 passes with 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He offensive numbers include 186 rushing, which ranks second on the team.
Jefferey Pittman continues to lead the squad in rushing with 346 yards, coming off a season-high 140-yard game at Georgia Southern. Pittman has also tallied two touchdown contests in each of his last three games.
Seven Golden Eagles have caught 10 or more passes this season with Elijah Metcalf leading the way in both receptions (18) and receiving yards (206). Micah Davis holds the most touchdown passes with three as nine different players have at least one scoring catch this year.
On defense, the Golden Eagles rank in the top 10 nationally in five different categories including No. 2 interceptions (11), No. 4 in turnover margin per game (1.33), No. 5 in turnovers gained (13) and No. 9 in both defensive touchdowns (2) and sacks per game (3.17).
Chris Jones continues to lead the way with 65 tackles and ranks No. 7 nationally at 10.7 stops per game. Michael Montgomery is next with 57, averaging 9.7, which ranks No. 12 in the country.
Montgomery, along with Ian Foster and Josh Moten, pace the squad with two interceptions apiece. Foster's two picks have resulted in touchdowns for Southern Miss, one from 99 yards and the other from 49.
The game marks the 56th meeting between the two programs, marking the second-longest series in Golden Eagle history. Southern Miss leads the overall series 42-12-1.
Following the Louisiana contest, Southern Miss returns to M.M. Roberts next week for homecoming when they play host to divisional rival ULM. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., and tickets for the game can be purchased by going to SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
Game time is set for 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
The Golden Eagles enter the contest 4-2 overall as well as a 2-0 SBC mark, having won cross-divisional contests against both App State and Georgia Southern already this season. Southern Miss plays a Ragin' Cajun club that is 2-4 on the year and 1-1 in league play.
The fast start for Southern Miss can be best described with a high-octane offense to go along with a ball-hawking stingy defense.
On offense, the Golden Eagles are averaging 32.2 points per game. That average currently ranks as the sixth-best in a season in Southern Miss history.
The offense has run through senior quarterback Braylon Braxton that has helped the Golden Eagles put together 394.2 yards per contest. Braxton has thrown for 1,473 yards on 128-of-196 passes with 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He offensive numbers include 186 rushing, which ranks second on the team.
Jefferey Pittman continues to lead the squad in rushing with 346 yards, coming off a season-high 140-yard game at Georgia Southern. Pittman has also tallied two touchdown contests in each of his last three games.
Seven Golden Eagles have caught 10 or more passes this season with Elijah Metcalf leading the way in both receptions (18) and receiving yards (206). Micah Davis holds the most touchdown passes with three as nine different players have at least one scoring catch this year.
On defense, the Golden Eagles rank in the top 10 nationally in five different categories including No. 2 interceptions (11), No. 4 in turnover margin per game (1.33), No. 5 in turnovers gained (13) and No. 9 in both defensive touchdowns (2) and sacks per game (3.17).
Chris Jones continues to lead the way with 65 tackles and ranks No. 7 nationally at 10.7 stops per game. Michael Montgomery is next with 57, averaging 9.7, which ranks No. 12 in the country.
Montgomery, along with Ian Foster and Josh Moten, pace the squad with two interceptions apiece. Foster's two picks have resulted in touchdowns for Southern Miss, one from 99 yards and the other from 49.
The game marks the 56th meeting between the two programs, marking the second-longest series in Golden Eagle history. Southern Miss leads the overall series 42-12-1.
Following the Louisiana contest, Southern Miss returns to M.M. Roberts next week for homecoming when they play host to divisional rival ULM. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., and tickets for the game can be purchased by going to SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
Players Mentioned
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - The Louisiana Game
Tuesday, October 14
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - The Georgia Southern Game
Tuesday, October 07
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - September 30, 2025 (Bye Week)
Tuesday, September 30
Postgame Press Conference - The Jax State Game
Sunday, September 28