University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
A Look Back: Eagles Complete Dramatic Overtime Finish in 2008 NOLA Bowl
12/18/2025 10:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Michael McGee may have provided the greatest highlight to end a Southern Miss bowl contest in the school's 27-game postseason history.
McGee, from Magee, Miss., sprinted around the left side of the line untouched to block a Troy game-tying, 28-yard field goal in overtime to help preserve a 30-27 Southern Miss victory in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl, played on Dec. 21, in the then named Louisiana Superdome.
"I was trying my best to get there and by the time I got 3 yards away from the ball, I didn't see anybody trying to block down on me, so I just dove and gave it my all," McGee said to the media following the game.
Under first-year coach Larry Fedora, the Golden Eagles had to win their final four games of the season to just get bowl eligible. Southern Miss ended the season by winning five-straight games.
Troy held Southern Miss to Britt Barefoot's 39-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime – a kick that banged off the left upright but still made its way through - but that wound up being enough for the Golden Eagles to win their third New Orleans Bowl in as many appearances. The program has gone on to play in two more New Orleans Bowls and will play in its sixth edition of the event this season when they meet WKU on Dec. 23.
Following the game, Fedora expressed his pleasure on the way his team finished the season.
"I just can't say how proud I am of this whole football team," Fedora said. "They were probably the only ones out there that really believed we would get it done. They never gave up, they believed in the coaches. ... They grew and they became a heck of a football team."
The Trojans, who won the Sun Belt Conference, led 27-17 after Jerrel Jernigan's 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Southern Miss began its comeback when Austin Davis rolled out on fourth-and-2 and lofted a 35-yard touchdown to tight end Jonathan Massey with 7:20 left in regulation.
"The day I took the job I said we were going to attack ... and we've had that philosophy all year," Fedora said. "That's a play we've worked and executed numerous times in practice and that's not the first time we've hit that play in a game so I don't think it was that big of a risk to be honest."
Barefoot then tied it with his 46-yard field goal with 2:50 to go.
The Golden Eagles were forced to play most of the game without leading receiver DeAndre Brown, who broke his left leg on an awkward landing in the end zone after his attempt at a leaping catch was batted down in the first quarter. Only one series earlier, Brown had set a single-season school record for receptions with 67 on a 9-yard catch.
Davis still completed 20 of 34 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring pass to New Orleans native Gerald Baptiste on a flea flicker in the first quarter. Baptiste finished with five catches for 88 yards.
Damion Fletcher, the school's career rushing leader, carried 14 times for 78 yards and a touchdown on an 8-yard end run. Fletcher also caught three passes for 23 yards.
Troy's Levi Brown was 26-of-43 for 255 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kennard Burton. Troy took the early lead on Jorrick Calvin's 17-yard fumble return and never trailed until overtime.
Tickets still remain for the Golden Eagles latest New Orleans Bowl appearance and can be purchased by clicking here.
McGee, from Magee, Miss., sprinted around the left side of the line untouched to block a Troy game-tying, 28-yard field goal in overtime to help preserve a 30-27 Southern Miss victory in the 2008 New Orleans Bowl, played on Dec. 21, in the then named Louisiana Superdome.
"I was trying my best to get there and by the time I got 3 yards away from the ball, I didn't see anybody trying to block down on me, so I just dove and gave it my all," McGee said to the media following the game.
Under first-year coach Larry Fedora, the Golden Eagles had to win their final four games of the season to just get bowl eligible. Southern Miss ended the season by winning five-straight games.
Troy held Southern Miss to Britt Barefoot's 39-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime – a kick that banged off the left upright but still made its way through - but that wound up being enough for the Golden Eagles to win their third New Orleans Bowl in as many appearances. The program has gone on to play in two more New Orleans Bowls and will play in its sixth edition of the event this season when they meet WKU on Dec. 23.
Following the game, Fedora expressed his pleasure on the way his team finished the season.
"I just can't say how proud I am of this whole football team," Fedora said. "They were probably the only ones out there that really believed we would get it done. They never gave up, they believed in the coaches. ... They grew and they became a heck of a football team."
The Trojans, who won the Sun Belt Conference, led 27-17 after Jerrel Jernigan's 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Southern Miss began its comeback when Austin Davis rolled out on fourth-and-2 and lofted a 35-yard touchdown to tight end Jonathan Massey with 7:20 left in regulation.
"The day I took the job I said we were going to attack ... and we've had that philosophy all year," Fedora said. "That's a play we've worked and executed numerous times in practice and that's not the first time we've hit that play in a game so I don't think it was that big of a risk to be honest."
Barefoot then tied it with his 46-yard field goal with 2:50 to go.
The Golden Eagles were forced to play most of the game without leading receiver DeAndre Brown, who broke his left leg on an awkward landing in the end zone after his attempt at a leaping catch was batted down in the first quarter. Only one series earlier, Brown had set a single-season school record for receptions with 67 on a 9-yard catch.
Davis still completed 20 of 34 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring pass to New Orleans native Gerald Baptiste on a flea flicker in the first quarter. Baptiste finished with five catches for 88 yards.
Damion Fletcher, the school's career rushing leader, carried 14 times for 78 yards and a touchdown on an 8-yard end run. Fletcher also caught three passes for 23 yards.
Troy's Levi Brown was 26-of-43 for 255 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kennard Burton. Troy took the early lead on Jorrick Calvin's 17-yard fumble return and never trailed until overtime.
Tickets still remain for the Golden Eagles latest New Orleans Bowl appearance and can be purchased by clicking here.
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