Southern Miss
0-1 , 0-0
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Mississippi State
1-0 , 0-0
Football Falls to Mississippi State in Season Opener
8/30/2025 4:41:00 PM | Football
The loss spoiled the debut of Golden Eagle coach Charles Huff as the Golden Eagles lost their second season opener in a row.
The Bulldogs also claimed the seventh-consecutive win in a row as the two schools met in Hattiesburg for the first time since the 2015 campaign.
MSU outgained the Golden Eagles 199-25 in the third period as they extended a 13-10 halftime advantage into a 34-10 advantage.
After giving up a 55-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen to Seydou Traore on the opening drive, the Golden Eagles cut the gap to 7-3 with a 43-yard field goal by Reed Harradine with 7:54 left in the period. The score came following an interception by Golden Eagle newcomer Michael Montgomery.
Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Braylon Braxton went 26 of 39 for 199 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception and rushed for 58 yards on 12 carries for the Golden Eagles.
After a 55-yard field goal by Kyle Ferrie, Braxton hit Micah Davis on a three-yard score with 9:32 left in the second. Ferrie added another field goal – this time from 30 yards – to give the visitors a 13-10 halftime advantage.
Braxton threw another touchdown in the final minute of the ball on a seven-yard strike to TJ Johnson in the final minute of the game to close the gap to 17 points.
The Bulldogs sputtered on both sides of the ball for most of the first half. MSU had two touchdowns called back on penalties and instead had to settle for field goals. A field goal from Kyle Ferrie made it 13-10 at the half.
Shapen finished 26-of-34 for 270 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
MSU outgained the Golden Eagles 462-301 with 185 yards on the ground on 40 carries.
The Golden Eagles return to action next Saturday as the play host to in-state foe Jackson State. Game time is set for 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by going online at SouthernMiss.com/tickets.
Team Stats
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MSU 7, USM 0
MSU - Traore,Seydou 57 yd pass from Shapen,Blake (Ferrie,Kyle kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:25
MSU 7, USM 3
USM - Harradine,Reed 43 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:38
MSU 10, USM 3
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 55 yd field goal 9 plays, 38 yards, TOP 04:19
MSU 10, USM 10
USM - Davis,Micah 3 yd pass from Braxton,Braylon (Harradine,Reed kick) 12 plays, 81 yards, TOP 04:25
MSU 13, USM 10
MSU - Ferrie,Kyle 30 yd field goal 15 plays, 63 yards, TOP 05:56
MSU 20, USM 10
MSU - Bothwell,Fluff 6 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 03:10
MSU 27, USM 10
MSU - Bothwell,Fluff 1 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 02:59
MSU 34, USM 10
MSU - Booth,Davon 3 yd run (Ferrie,Kyle kick), 9 plays, 42 yards, TOP 02:58
MSU 34, USM 17
USM - Johnson,TJ 7 yd pass from Braxton,Braylon (Harradine,Reed kick) 10 plays, 73 yards, TOP 04:16
