GINA HOLLAND
Associated Press Writer
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| Southern Missisippi tight end Bobby Garner spreads out as he falls after catching a pass,
while Louisville linebacker Michael Brown (35) and
safety Curry Burns (12) move in for the tackle. (AP Photo/Steve Coleman) |
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP)(Nov. 4) - Dave Ragone ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as Louisville beat turnover-plagued No. 13 Southern Mississippi
49-28 on Nov. 4.
Jeff Kelly threw four interceptions as Southern Miss allowed more touchdowns in one day than it had in the entire season.
Anthony Floyd had three of the picks, including one in the end zone on Southern Mississippi's first drive. Floyd had a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown
early in the second quarter. His third set up Ragone' 4-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Dewayne White also had an interception return for a TD, a 35-yarder in the third quarter.
A week after giving up just three points to Houston, Southern Miss (6-2, 3-1) saw Louisville (7-2, 4-1) score 21 points in both the second and third quarters.
The Cardinals had 419 yards of total offense to USM's 361.
Ragone completed 25 of 42 passes for 293 yards against a Southern Mississippi defense that had been ranked second nationally in points allowed per game at
9.8. Ragone also scored on a 1-yard run, and threw a 6-yard scoring pass to Deion Branch and a 3-yarder to Ronnie Ghent. Ghent had six catches for 117 yards.
Southern Mississippi's offense struggled with limited play from Derrick Nix, who missed the last three games with an injured ankle. He scored on a 1-yard run to
put Southern Mississippi ahead 7-0 in the first quarter. It was the Eagles' only lead.
Nix had 12 yards on seven carries and was still the Eagles' second best rusher. Dawayne Woods had 47 yards on 11 carries.
Kelly was 18-of-32 for 300 yards. He had a 50-yard scoring strike to Woods in the second quarter, then connected with Kennet Johnson on a 55-yard scoring
play in the third quarter to tie it at 21. Louisville scored 28 straight points.
USM scored once in each quarter, the final coming on Kelby Nance's 1-yard run.
T.J. Patterson had a 5-yard scramble for Louisville's seventh touchdown. Before Saturday, Southern Miss had given up six touchdowns in seven games.
Louisville had two fumbles, including one that set up Nix's touchdown. Southern Mississippi's only turnovers were interceptions.
Southern Mississippi had won in its last five meetings with Louisville. The victory avenged the Cardinals' narrow loss last year that came after USM faked a punt
then kicked a field goal with just over a minute left to win 30-27.
The Golden Eagles went into the game 24-2 against Conference USA opponents.