History was made at Southern Miss in Saturday’s contest versus the Tulane Green Wave, but not the history Golden Eagle fans will want to see. Southern Miss fell to Tulane 66-24, giving up the most points inside of M.M. Roberts Stadium, the most points in history between the two rivals, while Tulane also ended the 27-year losing drought in Hattiesburg [Tulane defeated Southern Miss 17-15 in 1993], and scored the most points in the Golden Eagle vs. Green Wave history. Southern Miss also gave up over 400 yards rushing on the day and a total of 572 yards.

How it happened

Southern Miss started hot with two touchdowns in the opening five minutes as Kevin Perkins scored from two yards out to put the Golden Eagles up 7-0 with 11:26 left in the first quarter. Their second touchdown came just one minute later on one play when Jack Abraham found Jason Brownlee on a curl route that turned into an 88-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-0.

Tulane fired back, scoring after forcing an Abraham interception with a Tvjae Spears two-yard rush touchdown to draw within seven with 6:58 to go in the first quarter. Another Spears touchdown - this time from 15-yards out - tied the game 14-14 with 14:01 remaining in the first half.

Southern Miss’ Narcissus Driver got in on the long-ball action when Abraham found him for a 61-yard touchdown to put the Golden Eagles up 21-14.

Tulane came roaring back to end the first half, though, as Michael Pratt hooked up with Cameron Carroll for a 16-yard touchdown pass after a Southern Miss turnover to tie it back up at 21. The Green Wave ended the first half with a 41-yard field goal and another touchdown with 1:41 to play when Carroll rushed for 30 yards into the endzone to push the Green Wave lead to 31-21.

Tulane started the second half how they ended the first half: hot. A 52-yard touchdown scamper from Carroll put Tulane up 38-21 with just over 14 minutes to play in the third quarter.

Southern Miss stopped the 24 point run by Tulane when Briggs Bourgeois connected with a 49-yard field goal - a career-long - to close the gap 38-24 in the third quarter.

Tulane iced the game with 21 unanswered points, scoring on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Pratt to Jha’Quan Jackson, a 47-yard rush touchdown from Petal native Stephon Huderson, a one-yard sneak from Pratt, and a 19-yard rush from Carroll to go up 66-24.

Quotes

It is a tough loss, right there. Just a tough loss,” said wide receiver Jason Brownlee after the loss. “We have to finish and keep the gas on our opponents.”

“I want to send an apology to the fans, players, and coaching staff. I’m embarrassed, our team is embarrassed, and that is not what we want to put on the field. We have to see if it is an assignment issue or a personnel issue. I’m in shock, but I take full responsibility. That is not how we want to represent this program,” said interim head coach Scotty Walden.

“There is no excuse for having a performance like that. We are going to get back and find ways to get better,” said Walden.

“I know we are better than that, but we have to get off of blocks and get into the backfield to create a new line of scrimmage,” said Walden on his assessment of the front seven on defense.

What’s next

Southern Miss falls to 0-3 on the season and will travel to North Texas next Saturday. Tulane moves to 2-1 on the year and faces off against Houston on a Thursday contest after their upcoming bye week.

STATS

Southern Miss

Jack Abraham - 23-38, 299 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception

Dee Baker - 6 attempts, 44 yards, 3 receptions, 16 yards

Don Ragsdale - 6 attempts, 18 yards

Kevin Perkins - 8 attempts, 17 yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Demarcus Jones - 11 receptions, 77 yards

Jason Brownlee - 3 reception, 110 yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Naricuss Driver - 2 reception, 62 yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Briggs Bourgeois - 1-1 field goal (49)

Tulane

Michael Pratt - 8-18, 142 yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 7 attempts, 40 yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Cameron Carroll - 15 attempts, 163 yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 1 reception, 32 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Tvjae Spears- 8 attempts, 50 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns

Stephen Huderson - 11 attempts, 120 yards

Amare Jones - 3 receptions, 27 yards

Jha'Quan Jackson - 1 reception, 42 yards, 1 receiving touchdown

Deuce Watts - 2 receptions, 38 yards

Merek Glover - 1-1 field goal (41)