Southern Miss rides a two-game win streak headed into Saturday night’s Conference USA football game against Louisiana Tech at Ruston, La.
The Golden Eagles defeated UTEP 24-0 last week and beat UTSA 31-29 the week prior.
And while Southern Miss (4-2 overall, 2-1 C-USA) holds a slight edge in the number of wins it has compared to Louisiana Tech (3-3, 1-1), those numbers may be a bit misleading.
For instance, Tech lost to Southeastern Conference contender South Carolina only 17-16 and fell to UAB in Conference USA play 23-22. Plus, there is a 23-22 win over perennial C-USA power Western Kentucky.
“(They are a) good football team,” USM coach Jay Hopson said. “I feel like this every week in Conference USA. You turn on the film and you know you have good football teams coming into town. There's a lot of parity in the league and a lot of good football teams. We know it will be a tough game.”
Southern Miss will decide on either Keon Howard or Kwadra Griggs to start at quarterback. Each has led the Eagles to two victories.
Howard, a sophomore, has completed 43-of-70 passes (61.4 percent) for 591 yards and 4 touchdowns. He has thrown two interceptions.
Griggs, a junior who suffered a hand injury and has not played the past two games, has completed 66 of 123 passes (53.7 percent) for 951 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has thrown one interception.
USM senior running back Ito Smith is ranked 13th in the nation in rushing yards with 733, an average of 6.2 per carry. He has gained more than 100 yards in each of the last four games. Against UTEP, Tez Parks ran eight times for 43 yards and is expected to see more and more action as the season goes on.
Korey Robertson is the top Golden Eagle receiver with 28 catches for 388 yards and five touchdowns. Allenzae Staggers is next with 20 receptions for 278 yards and three scores.
Southern Miss has committed 11 turnovers so far this season, an average of 1.83 per game, on three interceptions and eight fumbles. Hopson isn’t too concerned by the number.
“I really don't think we've had that many this year,” he said. “We're like 8,750 times better than we were a year ago. I don't think it needs addressing. It happens sometimes, it's football. We just have to execute.”
The Bulldogs, coached by Skip Holtz, will be led by quarterback J’Mar Smith, who Hopson recruited while coaching at Alcorn State, and running back Jarred Craft. Smith has completed 114-of 198-passes for 1,529 yards and nine touchdowns. He also runs a lot, with 152 yards on 48 carries. Craft has run 79 times for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Teddy Veal is the top receiver with 36 catches for 409 yards and three TDs.
“Not only can they throw the football, they can run it, too,” Hopson said. “They've got weapons. They have athletes out wide, at running back and quarterback. Defensively, they play good football. They have our respect on both sides of the ball and we know we're playing a good football team.”
