Eagles take on Cougars

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The University of Southern Mississippi's Conference USA title hopes are on the line when they face Houston at 4 p.m. today.

Southern Miss (5-3, 4-1) probably needs to win out to capture the East Division and advance to the conference's first championship game on Dec. 3.

It's a big game and, heck, you've got to go down and win," USM coach Jeff Bower said. "That's it. We know what we've got to do."

The Golden Eagles are chasing Central Florida (7-3, 6-1) in the division, but has the tiebreaker after defeating the Golden Knights 52-31.

Central Florida is likely to win its final game against Rice next week. Although Rice knocked off Tulane Saturday, the Owls are just 1-8 overall and 1-5 in C-USA.

Things aren't as easy for the Golden Eagles.

Southern Miss finishes out with Houston and home games against Memphis and Tulane. Those three have a combined 6-10 conference record.

This will be the ninth meeting between the Cougars (4-4, 2-3) and the Golden Eagles. USM is 6-2, including six in a row. Southern Miss won the last contest between the two teams 31-10 in 2003.

"We just have to continue to focus on (finishing) and continue to emphasize that," USM offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said. "It's just continue to develop and continue to mature as an offense and continue to work that attitude, 'Lets go out there and finish it."

The defense is in a similar position as the team makes this final push.

A push that could come without cornerback John Eubanks. Eubanks, a preseason All-America candidate, lost his starting job and did not practice Thursday or Friday because of personal reasons. He will not travel to Houston with the team.

"Each game is a different game and takes a different complexion," USM defensive coordinator Jay Hopson said. "For the most part we did a good job (in the 27-24 win against Marshall on Tuesday). We just have to continue to get better."

 

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It's now 3-game season for USM

Houston first, then home for 2




HOUSTON - Southern Miss is down to a three-game season in hopes of playing, and perhaps winning, its second Conference USA title game in three years.

Following a dramatic 27-24 win at Marshall on Tuesday night, the Golden Eagles four-game road swing concludes today against Houston at Robertson Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for last month but was rescheduled due to Hurricane Rita.

Southern Miss (5-3, 4-1 in C-USA) will be at home against Memphis on Saturday and Tulane in two weeks to close the regular season. A Golden Eagles win today will secure the school's 12th consecutive non-losing season and make the team bowl eligible.

More importantly, a win would leave the Golden Eagles in control of their destiny in winning the conference's East Division and a shot against the West Division leader in the Dec. 3 championship game.

Houston fell to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play after a 31-29 loss to Central Florida.

"This is where you want to be," Southern Miss senior quarterback Dustin Almond. "We were able to get the win at Marshall even though we didn't play that well in the fourth quarter and that's the fault of the offense.

"I have to get better in the fourth quarter. We are taking it one game at a time but we like our position."

Almond has thrown for 1,753 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. The offense is averaging 31.5 points and 340 total yards per game.

Houston's defense, on the other hand, has six interceptions and four forced fumbles on the season.

The key to a win will be Southern Miss' ability to keep the football away from a high-profile Cougars offense led by quarterback Kevin Kolb, who is averaging 274.4 passing yards per game, with 13 touchdowns and a 134.51 passing efficiency rating.

Houston, who lost to Southern Miss last season in overtime, also features a ground attack led by Ryan Gilbert. He has rushed for 595 yards with six touchdowns.

Houston averages 456 total yards of offense.

Southern Miss will counter with a defense that's surrendered 14 fourth-quarter points in each of its last two games. The Golden Eagles rank first in C-USA play and fourth nationally in turnover margin at 1.57. The unit has forced 24 turnovers and the offense has been able to turn the turnovers into 107 points.

"It's a big game," Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower said. "We've got to go win if we want to do what we hope to do. That's it. We've had nine games, three at home and six on the road. We know what we've got to do.

"They are balanced on offense. Most people don't realize how well they run the football. Defensively, they've given up some yards, but they are young, have good linebackers and play extremely hard. They'll be ready."

Senior middle linebacker Kevis Coley leads the Golden Eagles defense with 95 tackles while his twin brother Trevis Coley has recorded 70 tackles.

Tom Johnson, a former Moss Point and Gulf Coast Community College standout, has 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

"We have to be a better fourth-quarter team," Johnson said. "We gave up 14 points last week in the fourth quarter, but we did get the win and that's important. We've talked all week on getting better and winning the fourth quarter.

"We are going to be a better fourth-quarter team this week."

 

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UH PREVIEW
Cougars realize stakes are raised
Old nemesis Southern Miss an imposing hurdle to UH bowl hopes



According to Houston Cougars coach Art Briles, today is just another day at the office. Just another game on the schedule.

Don't believe it.

Briles might be trying to downplay the significance of today's game against Southern Mississippi, saying "It's a big game, but they're all big games," but nobody's buying it. Least of all his players.

Today's game at Robertson Stadium, the makeup of last month's Hurricane Katrina-postponed game, is as big as it gets. For both teams.

Southern Miss (5-3, 4-1 in Conference USA) is a hurdle in every way. The Golden Eagles are the biggest obstacle in the quest by the Cougars (4-4, 2-3) to gain bowl eligibility, but they're also the bully that for years has been picking on UH.

In 1996 Houston slipped past Southern Miss 56-49 in overtime, but since then the Cougars have been beaten black and blue ? or black and gold, as it were. Southern Miss enters today's game with a string of six straight wins over UH, and the Cougars think they can't afford to let today's game be No. 7.

"This game is huge," said UH senior running back Anthony Evans. "You go into the season thinking no game is any bigger than any other game, but that's not true here. This game ... you can't even put into words how big it is for us."

Even if the Cougars win their final home games against SMU and Rice, they would be at the six-win threshold for bowl eligibility. But that might not be good enough to ensure a postseason berth.

"It all comes down to this weekend," Evans said. "At 6-5, nothing is promised us. Even 7-4 might not get us into a bowl, but we still have to go out and fight, compete, play as hard as we can and get this one."

Which could be difficult.

For whatever reason, Southern Miss has had the Cougars' number over the last few years. They've won in blowouts (58-14 in 2001), and they've won the close ones (21-15 in 1998). They've won the shootouts (35-29 in overtime last season) and the defensive struggles (6-3 in 2000).

"I think we've actually played pretty well against them," said UH junior quarterback Kevin Kolb. "We feel we match up very well against them, and their style of defense, moving guys around, matches our style of offense. It's a little like backyard ball, and we like that."

The Golden Eagles, who beat Marshall on Tuesday night (27-24 in overtime), are battling Central Florida for C-USA's East Division title and a spot in the conference title game.

"It's a big game," said Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower. "We've got to go down and win if we want to do what we hope to do. That's it. ... We know what we've got to do."

 

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? Southern Mississippi at a glance: The Golden Eagles blocked two field goals in a 27-24 overtime victory over Marshall on Tuesday. They come to Houston without star return man John Eubanks, who was left in Hattiesburg "for personal reasons."
? Golden Eagles to watch: QB Dustin Almond (137-of-248, 1,753 yards, 16 TDs, nine interceptions), TE Shawn Nelson (17 receptions, 248 yards, two TDs), WR Chris Johnson (15 receptions, 246 yards, two TDs), RB Larry Thomas (144 rushes, 584 yards, four TDs), LB Kevis Coley (95 tackles, nine for losses, six sacks).

? Houston at a glance: Can anybody figure this team out? Yes, the Cougars are explosive on offense (458 yards and 29.8 points per game), but their hot-and-cold play often leaves them scrambling to play catch-up.
? Cougars to watch: QB Kevin Kolb (169-of-280, 2,234 yards, 15 TDs, 10 interceptions), WR Vincent Marshall (47 receptions, 584 yards, two TDs), WR Donnie Avery (32 receptions, 541 yards, five TDs), DB Rocky Schwartz (76 tackles, five pass breakups, one interception).

? Key injuries: Southern Mississippi, WR Antwon Courington (knee) is out. WR Tavares Williams (knee sprain), TE Pedi Causey (hamstring), CB Caleb Hendrix (hamstring) and C Robby D'Angleo (knee) are probable. Houston, DB Will Gulley (knee) is out. LB Lance Everson (knee) is questionable. LB Brendan Pahulu (hamstring) and LB Chris Pilot (ankle) are probable.

 

[Bigboss3114]

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