USM Notebook: Eagles run wild in opening quarter

By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Nov. 2, 2003
HATTIESBURG The University of Southern Mississippi struck fast and often against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns in its 48-3 win Saturday.
The Eagles scored touchdowns on their first three possessions in the opening 9 1/2 minutes of the game.
USM collected touchdowns from running back Anthony Harris (two-yard run), wide receiver Anthony Perine (nine-yard catch) and wide receiver Marvin Young (51-yard catch).
The Eagles three touchdown drives in the first quarter covered 133 yards, and it only took the team five minutes and 58 seconds to tally the 21 points.
USM didn't slow down in the second half. The Eagles started the third quarter scoring on a three-play, 78-yard drive that took 1:16. Almond capped the drive with a 21-yard run.
Containing the Cajuns
The last time USM and Louisiana-Lafayette met on the football field, the Eagles held the Ragin' Cajuns to 144 yards on offense.
Louisiana-Lafayette gained just seven rushing yards and 137 passing yards on Sept. 22, 2001.
USM continued to keep the Ragin' Cajuns' offense down in the two squads latest meeting. The Eagles defense held the Ragin' Cajuns to 94 yards rushing and 106 passing yards.
No Blackwell
USM was without the services of running back Timothy Blackwell for the second straight game.
Blackwell was suspended before the Eagles contest against South Florida on Oct. 25.
Blackwell had rushed for a team-high 274 yards before missing the last two games. Head coach Jeff Bower would not say how long the suspension would last.
D'Angelo returns
USM junior quarterback Micky D'Angelo took his first snap in a game since suffering a concussion against Memphis on Sept. 13.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior entered the game with 12:20 left in the third quarter.
After missing his first pass attempt, D'Angelo connected with tight end Alan Whitney for a 14-yard gain.
D'Angelo finished the game with 63 passing yards connecting on 4-of-6 attempts with one touchdown.
Streak ends
Eagles senior linebacker Rod Davis had his consecutive starts streak snapped on Saturday.
The 6-foot-3, 246-pounder had started 40 straight games before sitting out against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Davis was sidelined against the Ragin' Cajuns because of a shoulder injury.
Bower said he expects to have Davis back for the game against Houston.
Golden Anniversary
Saturday's contest between USM and Louisiana-Lafayette marked the 50th meeting between the two programs.
The Eagles win increased their series lead to 38-11-1 in the match up dating back to 1923.
The Ragin' Cajuns dominated the Eagles in the two teams first meeting winning 66-0, but USM has come out on top in the series in the last six meetings before Saturdays game.
The Eagles won the last meeting between the two schools 35-10 on Sept. 22, 2001.
USM has only lost once at home against Louisiana-Lafayette for a 21-1 mark at Roberts Stadium. The Eagles have a 16-10-1 record when playing in Lafayette, La., and a 1-0 mark at neutral sites in the series.