University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper
A Look Back: An Offensive Explosion in 2019 Led to a Golden Eagle Victory over Troy
11/26/2025 1:30:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – In a game that featured over 1,100 yards of total offense, Southern Miss and Troy battled under the lights at Veterans Memorial Stadium with the Golden Eagles capturing a 47-42 victory over the Trojans on this warm September evening in 2019.
It was what then Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson described as "a fun game to watch" and featured each team surpassing 500 yards in the passing game.
"We were having a lot of fun out there," said receiver Jaylond Adams, who had 11 catches for 180 yards and returned a momentum-flipping kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was most definitely fun."
And most definitely nerve-wracking, with the final result still in the balance until a 6-yard run by Southern Miss quarterback Jack Abraham on fourth-and-2 from the Troy 33 with less than 20 seconds left in the game.
"Honestly, words cannot explain how I feel right now," said Quez Watkins following the contest, who turned in the fifth-highest yardage game by a receiver, finishing with seven catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. "I'm just truly blessed. That's exactly how I feel, blessed."
Quarterback Jack Abraham rewrote his own record by completing his first 17 passes – besting his previous school best of 15-straight - on his way to a 28-of-36 evening for 463 yards, which remains the second-highest passing yardage in a game in program history.
With Neil McLaurin throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Mitchell, USM finished 514 yards passing. Add in another 112 yards rushing, and the Golden Eagles' uneven offense roared to life under Abraham's tutelage.
While the yards themselves were eye-catching, so were the circumstances in many cases.
Through three quarters, the Golden Eagles were 10-of-14 on third downs (71.4 percent). Southern Miss finished the game converting 11-of-17 third-down opportunities (64.7 percent).
Abraham's counterpart, Troy senior quarterback Kaleb Barker, also enjoyed a spectacular game. Barker completed 29-of-43 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns. He became only the fourth quarterback to throw for 500 yards against the Golden Eagles, joining Houston's Case Keenum (559 yards, 1999); Georgia's Eric Zeier (544 yards, 1993); and San Diego State's Dennis Shaw (524 yards, 1968).
Barker also became the first quarterback to throw for 500 yards against Southern Miss in a losing effort.
Four different Troy receivers topped 100 yards, including junior Tray Eafford (110 yards, seven catches, one touchdown); junior Kaylon Geiger (118 yards, six catches, on touchdown); sophomore Luke Whittemore (110 yards, five catches); and junior Khalil McClain (104 yards, four catches, two touchdowns).
Southern Miss jumped out 14-0 on a 5-yard run by Abraham and a 1-yard blast by sophomore Steven Anderson.
Troy tied the game on drives of 93 yards and 97 yards, with the first capped by a 57-yard strike to Geiger and the second on a 2-yard run by sophomore D.K. Billingsley, respectively.
Freshman Andrew Stein's 26-yard field goal lifted Southern Miss into a 17-14 halftime lead.
That edge disappeared quickly as the Trojans went up 21-17 on Eafford's 25-yard touchdown catch.
But the Golden Eagles seized control by scoring on three consecutive possessions over the third and fourth quarters, taking a 33-21 lead on Stein's 39-yard field goal, Watkins' 19-yard touchdown catch and Mitchell's 51-yard score.
Reggie Todd pulled Troy to within 33-28 by returning a pooch kickoff 69 yards for a score, but Adams responded with return of his own, taking Troy's kick 100-yards to restore the two-score cushion.
McClain's 34-yard touchdown catch was answered by Watkins' 64-yard score, though Troy had one last shot after McClain's 35-yard score with 2:51 left in the game.
But Tim Jones recovered Troy's on-side kick, and Southern Miss ran out the clock.
The 15th edition of the series takes place this Saturday as the two teams play for the 2025 Sun Belt West Division Championship. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium and can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network. Tickets are also available by going to SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
It was what then Southern Miss football coach Jay Hopson described as "a fun game to watch" and featured each team surpassing 500 yards in the passing game.
"We were having a lot of fun out there," said receiver Jaylond Adams, who had 11 catches for 180 yards and returned a momentum-flipping kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was most definitely fun."
And most definitely nerve-wracking, with the final result still in the balance until a 6-yard run by Southern Miss quarterback Jack Abraham on fourth-and-2 from the Troy 33 with less than 20 seconds left in the game.
"Honestly, words cannot explain how I feel right now," said Quez Watkins following the contest, who turned in the fifth-highest yardage game by a receiver, finishing with seven catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. "I'm just truly blessed. That's exactly how I feel, blessed."
Quarterback Jack Abraham rewrote his own record by completing his first 17 passes – besting his previous school best of 15-straight - on his way to a 28-of-36 evening for 463 yards, which remains the second-highest passing yardage in a game in program history.
With Neil McLaurin throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Mitchell, USM finished 514 yards passing. Add in another 112 yards rushing, and the Golden Eagles' uneven offense roared to life under Abraham's tutelage.
While the yards themselves were eye-catching, so were the circumstances in many cases.
Through three quarters, the Golden Eagles were 10-of-14 on third downs (71.4 percent). Southern Miss finished the game converting 11-of-17 third-down opportunities (64.7 percent).
Abraham's counterpart, Troy senior quarterback Kaleb Barker, also enjoyed a spectacular game. Barker completed 29-of-43 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns. He became only the fourth quarterback to throw for 500 yards against the Golden Eagles, joining Houston's Case Keenum (559 yards, 1999); Georgia's Eric Zeier (544 yards, 1993); and San Diego State's Dennis Shaw (524 yards, 1968).
Barker also became the first quarterback to throw for 500 yards against Southern Miss in a losing effort.
Four different Troy receivers topped 100 yards, including junior Tray Eafford (110 yards, seven catches, one touchdown); junior Kaylon Geiger (118 yards, six catches, on touchdown); sophomore Luke Whittemore (110 yards, five catches); and junior Khalil McClain (104 yards, four catches, two touchdowns).
Southern Miss jumped out 14-0 on a 5-yard run by Abraham and a 1-yard blast by sophomore Steven Anderson.
Troy tied the game on drives of 93 yards and 97 yards, with the first capped by a 57-yard strike to Geiger and the second on a 2-yard run by sophomore D.K. Billingsley, respectively.
Freshman Andrew Stein's 26-yard field goal lifted Southern Miss into a 17-14 halftime lead.
That edge disappeared quickly as the Trojans went up 21-17 on Eafford's 25-yard touchdown catch.
But the Golden Eagles seized control by scoring on three consecutive possessions over the third and fourth quarters, taking a 33-21 lead on Stein's 39-yard field goal, Watkins' 19-yard touchdown catch and Mitchell's 51-yard score.
Reggie Todd pulled Troy to within 33-28 by returning a pooch kickoff 69 yards for a score, but Adams responded with return of his own, taking Troy's kick 100-yards to restore the two-score cushion.
McClain's 34-yard touchdown catch was answered by Watkins' 64-yard score, though Troy had one last shot after McClain's 35-yard score with 2:51 left in the game.
But Tim Jones recovered Troy's on-side kick, and Southern Miss ran out the clock.
The 15th edition of the series takes place this Saturday as the two teams play for the 2025 Sun Belt West Division Championship. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium and can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network. Tickets are also available by going to SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
Players Mentioned
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