University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Saturday, December 17
New Orleans, La.
8 p.m.
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
6-7
21
vs
28
Southern Miss
7-6
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Miss | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Louisiana | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
12/17/2016 11:59:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Southern Miss used a pair of quick-scoring drives to grab the lead early and managed to hold the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in check in claiming a 28-21 win on Saturday in the 2016 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
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Ito Smith scored on a touchdown rush and pass on a pair of three-play drives by the Golden Eagles (7-6) that opened a 14-0 lead by the 7:17 mark of the first quarter.
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The Ragin' Cajuns defense settled in the remainder of the opening half keeping USM scoreless. A forced fumble by Tre'maine Lightfoot on a sack of Nick Mullens at 7:58 in the second quarter led to a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Dion Ray that brought Louisiana (6-7) into a 14-all tie.
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Southern Miss recaptured the lead four minutes into the second half when Mullens connected with Allenzae Staggers for a five-yard touchdown pass at 10:42 of the third quarter.
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Louisiana collected three first downs on the ensuing possession in an attempt to score an equalizer, but the Golden Eagles defense came up with a fourth down stop at the USM 32.
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USM's lead returned to two scores on a 14-play, 83-yard drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters. Smith ripped off runs of 24 and 13 yards to bring the Golden Eagles into a first-and-goal situation before plunging in from one yard out with 12:26 remaining to return the lead to two scores at 28-14.
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The Ragin' Cajuns battled back once more, using a Travis Crawford 53-yard interception return to set up an Anthony Jennings touchdown rush with 5:05 left to play that trimmed the USM lead to 28-21.
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The defense would return the ball to the offense holding the Golden Eagles on third down at the USM 46. Elijah McGuire converted on fourth down for a first down at the UL 49 with 30 seconds showingt, but a nine-yard sack put Louisiana into a second-and-long that proved too much to dig out of.
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Mullens passed for 346 yards, Staggers hauled in 230 yards receiving and Smith rushed for 138 to guide the Southern Miss offense.
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McGuire rushed for a team-high 99 yards, the vast majority of his 131 all-purpose yards accrued in his final outing as a Ragin' Cajun.
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The Ragin' Cajuns fell in a New Orleans Bowl contest for the first time in five appearances. The contest brought an end to the 2016 season.
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Ito Smith scored on a touchdown rush and pass on a pair of three-play drives by the Golden Eagles (7-6) that opened a 14-0 lead by the 7:17 mark of the first quarter.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns defense settled in the remainder of the opening half keeping USM scoreless. A forced fumble by Tre'maine Lightfoot on a sack of Nick Mullens at 7:58 in the second quarter led to a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Dion Ray that brought Louisiana (6-7) into a 14-all tie.
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Southern Miss recaptured the lead four minutes into the second half when Mullens connected with Allenzae Staggers for a five-yard touchdown pass at 10:42 of the third quarter.
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Louisiana collected three first downs on the ensuing possession in an attempt to score an equalizer, but the Golden Eagles defense came up with a fourth down stop at the USM 32.
Â
USM's lead returned to two scores on a 14-play, 83-yard drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters. Smith ripped off runs of 24 and 13 yards to bring the Golden Eagles into a first-and-goal situation before plunging in from one yard out with 12:26 remaining to return the lead to two scores at 28-14.
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns battled back once more, using a Travis Crawford 53-yard interception return to set up an Anthony Jennings touchdown rush with 5:05 left to play that trimmed the USM lead to 28-21.
Â
The defense would return the ball to the offense holding the Golden Eagles on third down at the USM 46. Elijah McGuire converted on fourth down for a first down at the UL 49 with 30 seconds showingt, but a nine-yard sack put Louisiana into a second-and-long that proved too much to dig out of.
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Mullens passed for 346 yards, Staggers hauled in 230 yards receiving and Smith rushed for 138 to guide the Southern Miss offense.
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McGuire rushed for a team-high 99 yards, the vast majority of his 131 all-purpose yards accrued in his final outing as a Ragin' Cajun.
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The Ragin' Cajuns fell in a New Orleans Bowl contest for the first time in five appearances. The contest brought an end to the 2016 season.
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#GeauxCajuns
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballTeam Stats
USM
LA
Total Yards
481
252
Pass Yards
346
95
Rushing Yards
135
157
Penalty Yards
131
57
1st Downs
22
21
3rd Downs
7
3
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
30:34
29:26
1st Quarter
USM 7, LA 0
USM - SMITH, Ito 11 yd run (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick), 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:57
USM 14, LA 0
USM - SMITH, Ito 6 yd pass from MULLENS, Nick (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick) 3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:12
USM 14, LA 7
LA - Jennings, A. 4 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 9 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:55
2nd Quarter
USM 14, LA 14
LA - Ray, Dion 12 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 2 plays, 29 yards, TOP 0:30
3rd Quarter
USM 21, LA 14
USM - STAGGERS, A. 5 yd pass from MULLENS, Nick (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:18
4th Quarter
USM 28, LA 14
USM - SMITH, Ito 1 yd run (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick), 14 plays, 83 yards, TOP 6:14
USM 28, LA 21
LA - Jennings, A. 3 yd run (Artigue, Stevie kick), 5 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:10
Game Leaders
Monday, October 19
Sunday, October 18
Sunday, October 18
Sunday, October 18
