Eagles dominate before entering closing weeks
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Nov. 3, 2003
HATTIESBURG The University of Southern Mississippi didn't just win a football game last Saturday, the Eagles (5-3, 4-0 Conference USA) completely dominated the contest.
USM defeated the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns 48-3, outgained its opponent 550 yards to 200 and produced 26 first downs to eight.
Even better for the Eagles, because of the team's big lead nearly everyone on the USM sideline that was dressed out got into the game. The Eagles had 11 players catch a pass and eight players rush the ball at least once. USM used three different quarterbacks and two punters and 24 different players recorded at least one tackle.
The victory was also important for the squad's confidence, as USM enters the home stretch of the college football season.
The Eagles are currently tied for first in the conference with undefeated TCU, and with four games remaining on the schedule, the idea of a perfect C-USA record is not far fetched.
USM closes the season with four straight conference games.
First up on the list is a trip to Texas where the Eagles will take on the University of Houston Cougars on Saturday.
Following Houston, USM hosts Tulane on Nov. 15, and the team will play TCU at home in a Thursday match up on Nov. 20.
The Eagles close the season on the road against East Carolina.
The Eagles chances of winning the regular-season C-USA title and earn a trip to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., have been boosted by the emergence of Anthony Harris.
The 5-foot-11, 222-pound sophomore was moved from the fullback spot to running back in USM's 27-6 win over South Florida on Oct. 25.
Harris gained 102 yards against South Florida, and he posted another 100-yard performance against Louisiana-Lafayette gaining 130.
USM's offense has benefited greatly from the yards gained in the running game. The Eagles had only notched a combined 461 yards on offense in games against Cincinnati (Oct. 4) and Alabama (Oct. 11) prior to the last two games.
USM has combined to post 887 yards in its last two games against South Florida and Louisiana-Lafayette.
