HATTIESBURG, MS – Southern Miss converted three App State interceptions into 17 points and cruised to a 38-22 victory over the Mountaineers in their Sun Belt Conference opener Saturday night at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The Golden Eagles (2-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) scored on defense and dominated field position throughout the first half, building a 17-point halftime lead that proved insurmountable despite a late App State rally. The Mountaineers (2-1, 0-1 Sun Belt) suffered their first loss of the season in front of 24,534 fans.
App State's offensive struggles began immediately on what appeared to be a promising opening drive. The Mountaineers moved 71 yards in nine plays to reach the Southern Miss 4-yard line, where AJ Swann's pass intended for the end zone was intercepted by Anthony Richard Jr. for a touchback.
The turnover proved costly only temporarily, as App State forced a three-and-out punt and responded with a seven-play, 62-yard scoring drive. Rashod Dubinion capped the march with a 2-yard touchdown run at 7:02 of the first quarter, giving the Mountaineers a 7-0 lead.
Southern Miss answered quickly with a methodical 10-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly three minutes. Jeffery Pittman finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, evening the score at 7-7 with 4:05 remaining in the opening quarter.
The game's turning point came early in the second quarter when App State again drove into the red zone. Facing third-and-goal from the Southern Miss 4-yard line, Swann's pass toward Rashod Dubinion was intercepted by Ian Foster, who returned it 99 yards for a touchdown. The play was reviewed and confirmed, giving Southern Miss a 17-7 lead with 10:40 left in the second quarter.
Foster's pick-six represented the longest interception return in Southern Miss history and completely shifted momentum. App State had moved the ball effectively to that point, gaining 149 yards on 26 plays in the first half, but the three interceptions inside the Southern Miss 10-yard line negated any offensive progress.
The Mountaineers' third turnover came on another promising drive when Swann, under pressure, threw into traffic from the Southern Miss 7-yard line. Mathis Haygood intercepted the pass in the end zone and returned it 18 yards. The play resulted in injuries to both Swann and left tackle Jayden Ramsey, forcing App State to turn to freshman quarterback Noah Gillon for the remainder of the game.
Southern Miss dominated possession time in the first half, holding the ball for just 12:20 compared to App State's 17:40, but made the most of their opportunities. The Golden Eagles outgained App State 122-131 in total yards but led 17-7 at halftime thanks to the turnover differential.
App State showed fight in the third quarter, initially cutting the deficit to 24-14 when Jaquari Lewis scored his first career touchdown on a 10-yard run with 1:06 remaining. The score came after a 12-play, 70-yard drive that featured Gillon completing 5 of 9 passes for 38 yards while managing the offense effectively.
The Mountaineers' momentum continued when they recovered an onside kick at the Southern Miss 50-yard line. Gillon moved the team into field goal range, but Dominic De Freitas' 49-yard attempt sailed wide right, keeping the score at 24-14 and preserving Southern Miss's two-possession lead.
Southern Miss responded to App State's rally with two quick scoring drives that effectively ended the competitive portion of the game. The Golden Eagles needed just five plays to cover 69 yards, with Pittman scoring his second touchdown on a 9-yard run with 11:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Less than two minutes later, Southern Miss struck again. Braylon Braxton connected with Micah Davis for a 21-yard touchdown pass, completing a three-play, 61-yard drive that extended the lead to 38-14 with 9:29 remaining.
App State added a late touchdown when Billy Wiles, a former Southern Miss quarterback, threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Jaden Barnes with 51 seconds remaining. Wiles converted the two-point conversion with a pass to Lewis, providing the final margin.
Statistically, App State outgained Southern Miss 470-389 in total yards and ran 90 plays to Southern Miss's 56. The Mountaineers controlled possession time 36:36 to 23:24 but couldn't overcome the three first-half turnovers and five sacks allowed.
Jaden Barnes led App State receivers with 10 catches for 132 yards and one touchdown, while Izayah Cummings added seven catches for 82 yards. Dubinion carried 24 times for 95 yards and one score despite being bottled up for much of the game.
Swann completed 15 of 23 passes for 217 yards before his injury, while Gillon finished 11 of 24 for 109 yards in his first career appearance. Wiles completed all five of his attempts for 49 yards and one touchdown.
For Southern Miss, Braxton completed 22 of 30 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Tychaun Chapman led receivers with four catches for 112 yards, while Pittman rushed for 39 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries.
The Golden Eagles' defense generated constant pressure, recording five sacks while forcing four turnovers. Foster's interception return highlighted a defensive performance that held App State to 2.5 yards per carry on 38 rushing attempts.
App State's red zone struggles proved decisive, as the Mountaineers scored on just three of six trips inside the Southern Miss 20-yard line. The team also committed seven penalties for 65 yards while Southern Miss was flagged nine times for 74 yards.
The loss dropped App State to 0-1 in Sun Belt play heading into a bye week. The Mountaineers will face a challenging road test at Boise State on September 27 before returning to conference action.
Key Performers
Southern Miss:
- Ian Foster: 99-yard interception return for touchdown, 12 total tackles
- Braylon Braxton: 22-of-30 passing, 279 yards, 2 TDs
- Jeffery Pittman: 6 carries, 39 yards, 2 TDs
- Tychaun Chapman: 4 catches, 112 yards
App State:
- Jaden Barnes: 10 catches, 132 yards, 1 TD
- Rashod Dubinion: 24 carries, 95 yards, 1 TD
- AJ Swann: 15-of-23 passing, 217 yards (before injury)
- Izayah Cummings: 7 catches, 82 yards
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