Southern Miss falls to rival La Tech
Southern Miss did not extend their winning streak to three, as they fell 30-20 to former conference rival Louisiana Tech.
After a quick three-and-out from Southern Miss, both offenses started firing. On their first offensive play, La Tech’s quarterback Blake Baker completed a 73-yard pass to tight end Eli Finley. This set up a one-yard rushing touchdown from Baker, and the Bulldogs jumped to a quick 7-0 lead.
“That’s our guy…he just wanted to win a football game”@Eli_finley1 made life awful for the Southern Miss defense
6 targets 6 rec. 155 yards, 106 YAC
“If my role is zero catches or if my role is like tonight, I’m willing to do that role as long as we get a win” pic.twitter.com/2yligcllpJ
— Jeremy Bryant 🎥 (@tvtimewithJB) September 21, 2025
Braylon Braxton and the Golden Eagles responded quickly with a touchdown of their own after only 1:21 came off the clock. Braxton found Kyirin Heath to top off a four-play, 75-yard drive, and the game was quickly tied.
Both teams traded field goals on their ensuing drives. La Tech’s Omiri Wiggins ran it in to close the scoring in the first quarter, as the Bulldogs led 17-10.
Less than a minute into the second quarter, Braxton’s pass was intercepted and returned 48-yards for a touchdown by linebacker Kolbie Fields, extending the lead to 13 after a missed extra-point.
The Bulldogs did not let up, as running back Clay Thevenin ran it in from one-yard to cap off a drive that took over six minutes. Louisiana Tech would go into the halftime break up 30-10.
The second half would get off to a much slower start, as the punter was brought out in three consecutive drives.
That was until the Southern Miss offense thought they found their rhythm. An 86-yard drive stalled at the one-yard line, and the Golden Eagles would turn the ball over on downs.
A field goal late in the third quarter by Southern Miss’ Reed Harradine would cut the lead to 17, as it would be 30-13 entering the fourth.
Southern Miss would strike late in the game with a touchdown but it wouldn’t be enough, with the game ending 30-20 in favor of the Bulldogs.
Despite the loss, Braxton finished 28-for-46 for 392 yards and added 23 yards rushing.
Braxton found 11 different receivers in those 28 completed passes, with Carl Chester being the top target. Chester caught 4 passes for 118 yards.
Carl 😶🌫️ pic.twitter.com/JEdLQMF45U
— Southern Miss Football (@SouthernMissFB) September 21, 2025
Southern Miss not only led the game in passing yards (392-239) but also in rushing yards (122-101). Robert Briggs led the rushing attack with 47 yards on nine carries. The Golden Eagles rushed for 122 yards as a team.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Golden Eagles’ two leading tacklers on the season led the team in this game. Linebacker Chris Jones finished with 14 tackles. Linebacker Michael Montgomery ended with 13 tackles.
This loss drops Southern Miss to 2-2 on the season. Head Coach Charles Huff will head back to the drawing board and look to bounce back next week against Jacksonville State.
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