USM's Davis ponders future with NFL

By By Stan Caldwell / EMG Sports Writer
Dec. 29, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas Has standout middle linebacker Rod Davis played his last game for the University of Southern Mississippi?
Davis said it was, "50-50," on whether he would return in 2003 for his senior season, following Friday's disappoining 33-23 loss to Oklahoma State in the Houston Bowl.
However, Davis seemed to be leaning toward going pro. He said he would announce his decision by Jan. 8, a full week ahead of the deadline for filing with the NFL for the draft.
If it was Davis' last game for USM, he went out with a solid, if unspectacular, performance.
He had nine tackles and recovered a fumble in the second quarter that led to USM's first touchdown.
The play of the game may have been Chris Johnson's one-handed grab of a Dustin Almond pass in the second quarter.
Johnson streaked down the right sideline and hooked the pass with his right hand as he fell out of bounds. The 43-yard play set the Golden Eagles up at the Oklahoma State 11 yard-line and led to a Curt Jones field goal that tied the game 13-13.
Oklahoma State entered the Houston Bowl as one of the nation's best in defending kick returns, but USM wasn't very impressed.
The Golden Eagle return teams had a big day against the Cowboys, piling up 181 yards on kick returns.
Marvin Young returned three punts for 55 yards, including a long of 30 yards, and John Eubanks returned five kickoffs for 126 yards, including a long of 50 yards.
Place-kicker Curt Jones solved whatever problem that caused him to go into a tailspin midway through the season. Jones was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and converted both extra-points he attempted.
The three field goals were the most he's made this season, and his PAT kicks extended USM's streak of successful conversions at 98.
Oklahoma State star wide receiver Rashaun Woods constantly confused the Golden Eagle defense by lining up in a variety of spots in the Cowboy offense.
The junior All-America switched from attacking cornerback Greg Brooks to safety Etric Pruitt to cornerback Alex Ray and so on.
Wood responed with an MVP effort, catching nine passes for 164 yards and a touchdown.
He was named the game's most valuable player.
Micky D'Angelo got the start at quarterback for USM, but his day's work was brief.
D'Angelo took just two snaps for the Golden Eagles, with the second resulting in an interception by Oklahoma State's Darrent Williams.
D'Angelo suffered a pulled rib muscle and he was held out of practice most of the previous week.
Etric Pruitt thwarted an attempt by Oklahoma State to tack on a field goal late in the first half, which would have extended the Cowboys' halftime advantage to 23-13.
Pruitt's block of Luke Phillips' 52-yard attempt with two seconds left in the half was his third blocked kick this season and the sixth of his career.
Tight end Terrell Browden's 44-yard catch-and-run on USM's opening drive of the second half was the longest of his career.
Browden took a short safety-valve pass from Dustin Almond, broke a tackle along the left sideline and dashed all the way to the OSU 2 yard-line.
James Walley scored on the next play to tie the game 20-20.