University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joe Harper
A Look Back: Southern Miss Wins 2015 CUSA West Division Championship in Ruston
9/17/2025 10:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss recorded seven turnovers and scored three times over a 45-second period to turn a close contest into a runaway victory at Louisiana Tech to capture the 2015 Conference USA West Division crown.
Ito Smith scored all three touchdowns during that 45-second span early in the fourth quarter as the Golden Eagles registered a 58-24 victory, Nov. 28, at Joe Aillet Stadium. The win gave the Golden Eagles their third CUSA divisional championship.
Smith, a sophomore that season who later played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, rushed for 169 yards on 22 carries and those three touchdowns all came on the first play of a drive following a Louisiana Tech turnover.
His first touchdown came with 14:41 left from 57 yards, and he added a 17-yard rushing score 21 seconds later, before tallying an 11-yard dash into the endzone 24 seconds after that. Devonta Foster later completed the 27-point final quarter with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:26 remaining.
Foster was one of four Golden Eagles to register interceptions that day, along with D'Nerius Antoine, Terrick Wright, and Kevin Williams, Jr. Wright also added a fumble recovery in the contest.
Mike Thomas collected 162 receiving yards on seven catches, including a one-handed grab on a score in the back corner of the end zone in the second quarter as Southern Miss built a 24-10 lead at halftime. Quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 386 yards on 24-of-37 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.
The Golden Eagles opened the game's scoring on their second drive as Mullens orchestrated a 92-yard drive, recording four pass plays of at least 20 yards, which culminated in 22-yard scoring strike to Jalen Richard to give Southern Miss the early 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored on their ensuing drive as quarterback Jeff Driskel pushed the home squad down the field and had LA Tech at 1st-and-10 at the Southern Miss 25. After an incompletion, Dylan Bradley sacked Driskel. The Bulldogs were then hit with a delay of game and had to settle for a 47-yard field goal from Jonathan Barnes.
The game remained 7-3 until Southern Miss blew up open the game with 17 points in the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Richard with 12:06 to go in the second quarter. Thomas' one-handed, seven-yard touchdown grab, and a Stephen Brauchle 21 field goal accounted for the other Southern Miss first-half scoring.
The 54th meeting between the two teams, the third longest series in Golden Eagle football history, takes place this Saturday at 6:30 p.m., in Ruston, and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
Ito Smith scored all three touchdowns during that 45-second span early in the fourth quarter as the Golden Eagles registered a 58-24 victory, Nov. 28, at Joe Aillet Stadium. The win gave the Golden Eagles their third CUSA divisional championship.
Smith, a sophomore that season who later played in the NFL for the Atlanta Falcons, rushed for 169 yards on 22 carries and those three touchdowns all came on the first play of a drive following a Louisiana Tech turnover.
His first touchdown came with 14:41 left from 57 yards, and he added a 17-yard rushing score 21 seconds later, before tallying an 11-yard dash into the endzone 24 seconds after that. Devonta Foster later completed the 27-point final quarter with a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:26 remaining.
Foster was one of four Golden Eagles to register interceptions that day, along with D'Nerius Antoine, Terrick Wright, and Kevin Williams, Jr. Wright also added a fumble recovery in the contest.
Mike Thomas collected 162 receiving yards on seven catches, including a one-handed grab on a score in the back corner of the end zone in the second quarter as Southern Miss built a 24-10 lead at halftime. Quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 386 yards on 24-of-37 passing with three touchdowns and one interception.
The Golden Eagles opened the game's scoring on their second drive as Mullens orchestrated a 92-yard drive, recording four pass plays of at least 20 yards, which culminated in 22-yard scoring strike to Jalen Richard to give Southern Miss the early 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs scored on their ensuing drive as quarterback Jeff Driskel pushed the home squad down the field and had LA Tech at 1st-and-10 at the Southern Miss 25. After an incompletion, Dylan Bradley sacked Driskel. The Bulldogs were then hit with a delay of game and had to settle for a 47-yard field goal from Jonathan Barnes.
The game remained 7-3 until Southern Miss blew up open the game with 17 points in the second quarter.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Richard with 12:06 to go in the second quarter. Thomas' one-handed, seven-yard touchdown grab, and a Stephen Brauchle 21 field goal accounted for the other Southern Miss first-half scoring.
The 54th meeting between the two teams, the third longest series in Golden Eagle football history, takes place this Saturday at 6:30 p.m., in Ruston, and can be seen via ESPN+ as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.
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