The Associated Press
HATTIESBURG – Southern Mississippi rushed for 335 yards on the way to a 52-6 blowout Saturday night over Southeastern Louisiana, a Football Championship Subdivision opponent. Coming off a tough 26-20 loss to Conference USA foe Marshall, the Golden Eagles (2-1) pounded the Lions (1-2) between the tackles, controlled the clock and scored 13 more points than they did in their previous two games combined.
Sophomore Kendrick Hardy gained 155 yards on 18 carries, freshman Jamal Woodyard ran 15 times for 99 yards and Jeremy Hester added 53 yards on eight carries. All three scored one touchdown on the ground.
The up-tempo Southeastern Louisiana offense came in averaging 92 plays a game, but ran just 74 for 285 total yards.
“We played a much better game in all three phases,” Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said. “There were mistakes, but this was a much more complete game. We wanted to take care of the ball, and we did that.”
Lions quarterback Nathan Stanley threw three interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns.
Down 21-6 with less than 10 seconds left in the first half, Southeastern Louisiana was driving to set up a field goal when Stanley’s first interception bounced off the hands of receiver Kory Theodore and into the hands of Southern Miss linebacker Korey Williams.
Williams rumbled 60 yards for the score, breaking a tackle from Stanley at the 10-yard line. The touchdown gave Southern Miss a 28-6 lead at halftime.
“We talked about leaving a couple of opportunities on the field last week,” Williams said. “That was a big emphasis in practice this week, making sure we didn’t make the same mistakes, and I think we can say we didn’t.”
Stanley’s second costly interception came late in the fourth quarter with the Lions pinned inside their own 5-yard line. Southern Miss defensive end Octavius Thomas grabbed a pass just out of Stanley’s hands and walked into the end zone from 6 yards out.
Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis connected on 16 of his 23 pass attempts for 143 yards and a pair of touchdown passes to Woodyard and tight end Collin Jarbo before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.
Southern Miss kicker Danny Hrapmann, a Lou Groza Award finalist a year ago, missed two field goals for the first time in his career. He was good from 49 yards, but missed on kicks of 42 and 47 yards.
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