Southern Miss football found themselves in the midst of a lopsided showdown, and the Golden Eagles’ fortunes took a nosedive on Saturday night. While hope flickered in the first 22 minutes, it was the unrelenting force of No. 5 Florida State that ultimately crushed Southern Miss, marking a 66-13 dismantling.
In the opening quarter, Florida State (2-0) swiftly established a 14-0 advantage, yet Southern Miss managed to hang on until midway through the second quarter. The Seminoles then responded to the Golden Eagles’ first points of the game with an impressive 17-point surge over the next three possessions, firmly grasping a 31-3 lead as they headed into halftime.
The second half proved even more arduous for Southern Miss (1-1), with the team conceding three touchdowns within the first five minutes. Their lone touchdown arrived late in the third quarter, but by then, the game had already spiraled out of reach.
As the rhythm of the game evolved, Southern Miss was forced to abandon its running game. Even in situations that seemed ideal for running plays, they barely utilized the talents of Frank Gore Jr. The game kicked off with nine consecutive passing plays, with the first rushing attempt only emerging on the final snap of the first quarter – a one-yard dash by Gore during a second-and-15 situation.
The passing game failed to make a significant impact either, with Southern Miss quarterback Billy Wiles completing just 3 of 8 attempts for a mere 28 yards in the quarter. He even incurred a penalty for intentional grounding during the ninth passing play. By halftime, Gore stood as the sole USM running back to have carried the ball, amassing seven attempts for a modest 22 yards.
While there was much anticipation surrounding Florida State’s passing prowess, Southern Miss’ defense initially posed a considerable challenge to the Seminoles. Although FSU managed to score effortlessly on their first drive, they encountered resistance on subsequent possessions. They went three-and-out once, and then, after a grueling 12-play scoring drive, they even turned the ball over on downs late in the first quarter.
This defensive resilience was a product of solid pressure from the front and tight coverage in the secondary. Two crucial deflected passes stood out – first, a remarkable effort from junior cornerback Markel McLaurin thwarted what could have been a 40-yard touchdown pass. Later in the half, sophomore safety Elijah Sabbatini exhibited remarkable athleticism to prevent what might have resulted in another long FSU touchdown.
Southern Miss found themselves hampered by an abundance of penalties, which contributed significantly to their offensive woes. In the first half alone, the Golden Eagles accumulated 11 penalties totaling 68 yards. These infractions plagued both sides of the ball, leaving the offense constantly facing unfavorable situations and the defense constantly on the backfoot. Although none of these penalties were individually catastrophic, their cumulative impact was undeniable.
However, Southern Miss managed to clean up their act in the second half, committing just two penalties, but by then, the die had already been cast.
