University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
A Look Back: Ito Smith Enjoys Banner Evening as Golden Eagles Defeat Warhawks in 2017
10/22/2025 2:22:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – In the first meeting between the two schools in the 21st century, Southern Miss traveled to Monroe for the initial time and got a solid performance from running back Ito Smith to defeat ULM 28-17.
Then Golden Eagle football coach Jay Hopson did not need many words to sum up the performance of his running back at Malone Stadium.
"Ito had an Ito day," said Hopson.
Smith ran for 219 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, logging the first 200-yard rushing game of his career. It also tied him with the eighth-highest rushing performance in school history.
Smith broke off a 44-yard run in the game's waning minutes to become the first USM rusher over 200 yards since Jalen Richard went for 230 yards against Texas State, Sept. 19, 2015. He also added a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Quarterback Kwadra Griggs threw three touchdown passes, as Southern Miss rolled up 534 yards total offense. Griggs completed 17 of 32 passes for 250 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 15 yards and 20 yards to Korey Robertson and 42 yards to Allenzae Staggers.
Staggers led USM receivers with four catches for 75 yards, while Robertson had three catches for 72 yards, all in the first half.
Derrick Gore led the ULM ground game with 96 yards on 18 carries. Caleb Evans, half of the two-headed quarterback position for the Warhawks, rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including a 67-yard touchdown that pulled ULM within 21-17 less than halfway through the third quarter.
But Griggs connected with Staggers, who made a juggling catch with 5:31 left in the quarter to re-establish USM's two-possession lead, and the Golden Eagles kept ULM off the scoreboard the remainder of the game.
It was the second time in the game that Southern Miss immediately had answered a ULM score. The Warhawks had tied the game 7-7 on the second snap of the second quarter on Evans' 1-yard run. But Smith capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive with his scoring run, taking a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation and slicing over left tackle for a 14-7 lead.
Hopson said those answers by the offense and a goal-line stand by the defense that turned a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line into a 19-yard field goal were huge factors in the win.
The Golden Eagles and Warhawks meet again this Saturday when the two teams meet for the school's homecoming. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network. Tickets for the game can be purchased at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
Then Golden Eagle football coach Jay Hopson did not need many words to sum up the performance of his running back at Malone Stadium.
"Ito had an Ito day," said Hopson.
Smith ran for 219 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, logging the first 200-yard rushing game of his career. It also tied him with the eighth-highest rushing performance in school history.
Smith broke off a 44-yard run in the game's waning minutes to become the first USM rusher over 200 yards since Jalen Richard went for 230 yards against Texas State, Sept. 19, 2015. He also added a 27-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
Quarterback Kwadra Griggs threw three touchdown passes, as Southern Miss rolled up 534 yards total offense. Griggs completed 17 of 32 passes for 250 yards. He threw touchdown passes of 15 yards and 20 yards to Korey Robertson and 42 yards to Allenzae Staggers.
Staggers led USM receivers with four catches for 75 yards, while Robertson had three catches for 72 yards, all in the first half.
Derrick Gore led the ULM ground game with 96 yards on 18 carries. Caleb Evans, half of the two-headed quarterback position for the Warhawks, rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns, including a 67-yard touchdown that pulled ULM within 21-17 less than halfway through the third quarter.
But Griggs connected with Staggers, who made a juggling catch with 5:31 left in the quarter to re-establish USM's two-possession lead, and the Golden Eagles kept ULM off the scoreboard the remainder of the game.
It was the second time in the game that Southern Miss immediately had answered a ULM score. The Warhawks had tied the game 7-7 on the second snap of the second quarter on Evans' 1-yard run. But Smith capped a 10-play, 76-yard drive with his scoring run, taking a direct snap out of the Wildcat formation and slicing over left tackle for a 14-7 lead.
Hopson said those answers by the offense and a goal-line stand by the defense that turned a first-and-goal at the 1-yard line into a 19-yard field goal were huge factors in the win.
The Golden Eagles and Warhawks meet again this Saturday when the two teams meet for the school's homecoming. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m., and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network. Tickets for the game can be purchased at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
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