Southern Miss Knocks Off Kansas 31-16

For post-game analysis, visit Kansas blog Rock Chalk Talk

Hattiesburg, MS (Sports Network) – Austin Davis threw for 155 yards on 19- of-24 throws and added 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground while guiding Southern Miss to 31-16 victory over Kansas in a non-conference affair.

Desmond Johnson added 89 yards and a TD on eight carries for the Golden Eagles (2-1), winners of two straight after a 41-13 drubbing at the hands of South Carolina to open the season.

Jordan Webb completed 16-of-26 passes for just 138 yards with a touchdown for the Jayhawks (1-2), who failed to build off last week’s upset win over then nationally-ranked Georgia Tech.

Southern Miss’s balanced 12-play, 80-yard drive in the first quarter was finished off by running back V.J. Floyd’s jump pass to Jonathan Massey from a yard out, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead nine minutes in.

Kansas got on the board via Jacob Branstetter’s 37-yard field goal near the 10-minute mark of the second stanza, but Johnson’s 49-yard jaunt to paydirt roughly six minutes later made it a 14-3 game.

The Golden Eagles forced a three-and-out, and on the ensuing punt, Tim Green broke through the wedge and blocked the kick. Deron Wilson picked up the bouncing pigskin at the Kansas eight-yard line and went the rest of the way for a comfortable halftime lead.

Deshaun Sands’ eight-yard TD run on Kansas’ first drive of the second half cut into the deficit, but Davis’ plunge over the goal line from the one capped a 15-play, 80-yard march with under two minutes left in the third.

The Golden Eagles’ Danny Hrapmann booted a 45-yard kick late with just over five minutes remaining in the game.

Webb and Johnathan Wilson connected for a 41-yard TD on the next play from scrimmage to make the score somewhat respectable.