|
USM finds C-USA crown in Greenville
From Associated Press
and Staff Reports
|
Game No. 12 Vitals: ECU vs. USM |
|
|
|
|
|
GREENVILLE Dustin Almond
made up for three interceptions with two touchdown runs and a TD pass to
lead Southern Mississippi to a 38-21 victory over East Carolina on
Saturday to clinch the Conference USA title.
The win by the Golden Eagles (9-3, 8-0) gave them the championship
outright and sewed up a berth in Liberty Bowl against Utah on Dec. 31.
Almond completed 11 of 24 passes for 208 yards and also carried the ball
seven times for 34 yards. Anthony Harris also had 28 carries for 119
yards and a score.
A 42-yard pass from Almond to DaRon Lawrence in the second quarter moved
the Golden Eagles to the East Carolina 28-yard line and opened up the
offense.
Almond scored on a 14-yard
run five plays later to push the Southern Miss lead to 9-0 with 4:24
left in the half. Almond tacked on another TD run less than two minutes
later to make it 17-0.
The Pirates (1-11, 1-7) got within 24-14 in the third quarter when
cornerback Erode Jean returned an interception 31 yards for the score.
Paul Troth, thrust into
action at quarterback after starter James Pinkney was injured, also had
a 65-yard scoring pass to Damarcus Fox for East Carolina.
But Almond tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Young late in the
third.
East Carolina recovered an onside kick after Vonta Leach's 1-yard
touchdown plunge with 59 seconds remaining but John Eubanks intercepted
a Troth pass and returned it 80 yards for the touchdown.
The Pirates lost their last five games of the season under first-year
coach John Thompson.
02/23/2007 10:52 AM
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. Bonesville.net contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
