NEW ORLEANS — Michael McGee blocked a potential game-tying field goal in overtime, lifting Southern Mississippi to a 30-27 win over Troy in the New Orleans Bowl on Sunday night.
Troy held Southern Miss to Britt Barefoot’s 39-yard field goal on the first possession of OT, but that wound up being enough for the Golden Eagles to win their third New Orleans Bowl in as many appearances.
The Trojans, winners of the Sun Belt Conference, led 27-17 after Jerrel Jernigan’s 6-yard scoring run late in the third quarter.
Southern Miss responded with Austin Davis’ 35-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Massey on fourth-and-2 with 7:20 left in regulation. Barefoot tied the game with his 46-yard field goal with 2:50 to go.
Southern Miss (7-6) was forced to play most of the game without leading receiver DeAndre Brown, who broke his left leg on an awkward landing in the end zone after attempting a leaping catch in the first quarter. Only one series earlier, Brown set a single-season school record for receptions with 67 on a 9-yard catch.
Without his top target for most of the game, Davis completed 20 of 34 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, including a 64-yard scoring pass to New Orleans native Gerald Baptiste on a flea flicker in the first quarter.
Southern Miss career rushing leader Damion Fletcher carried 14 times for 78 yards and a touchdown on an 8-yard end run. Fletcher also caught three passes for 23 yards.
Troy’s Levi Brown was 26-of-43 for 255 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass to Kennard Burton. Troy (8-5) took the early lead on Jorrick Calvin’s 17-yard fumble return and never trailed until overtime.
Southern Miss.7100103—30
Troy1431000—27
First Quarter
Troy—Calvin 17 fumble return (Glusman kick), 14:10.
USM—Baptiste 64 pass from A.Davis (Barefoot kick), 13:22.
Troy—Burton 4 pass from Brown (Glusman kick), 2:58.
Second Quarter
USM—Fletcher 8 run (Barefoot kick), 14:25.
Troy—FG Glusman 20, 3:03.
USM—FG Barefoot 38, :00.
Third Quarter
Troy—FG Glusman 34, 4:34.
Troy—Jernigan 6 run (Glusman kick), 2:01.
Fourth Quarter
USM—Massey 35 pass from A.Davis (Barefoot kick), 7:20.
USM—FG Barefoot 46, 2:50.
Overtime
USM—FG Barefoot 39.
A—30,197.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Southern Miss., Fletcher 14-78, A.Davis 18-37, Harrison 5-31. Troy, Du.Harris 19-52, Moreland 4-28, Jernigan 6-22, Burton 1-(minus 2), Brown 5-(minus 27).
PASSING—Southern Miss., A.Davis 20-34-0-276. Troy, Brown 26-43-0-255, Jernigan 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—Southern Miss., Baptiste 5-88, Morris 4-61, Parham 3-26, Fletcher 3-23, Nelson 2-16, Massey 1-35, Spight 1-18, D.Brown 1-9. Troy, Jernigan 9-65, Tate 3-47, Burton 3-30, Du.Harris 3-20, C.Williams 2-36, Silvoy 1-16, Turner 1-13, A.Davis 1-10, Marcum 1-8, Bray 1-7, Terry 1-3.
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