Tulane University
Southern Mississippi
Tulane Falls to Southern Miss, 26-7
Nov 26, 2005 | Football
Nov. 26, 2005
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Dustin Almond threw for 276 yards and a touchdown and Darren McCaleb kicked four field goals to help Southern Mississippi become bowl eligible Saturday in a 26-7 victory over Tulane in a game pushed back by Hurricane Katrina.
Southern Mississippi (6-5, 5-3 Conference USA) extended its string of winning seasons to 12 and appear headed to its fourth straight postseason trip.
The Golden Eagles and Green Wave (2-9, 1-7) were supposed to play Sept. 4, but that became impossible after Katrina tore through Louisiana and Mississippi the week before.
Southern Miss had one last chance to qualify for a bowl and Tulane could do little to stop the Golden Eagles.
The Green Wave trailed 23-0 before Lester Ricard threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Damarcus Davis with 1:40 to play in the third quarter.
Cole Mason got Southern Mississippi going early with 1-yard run to put the Golden Eagles up 7-0 after one quarter. McCaleb booted three field goals in the second quarter, one from 33 yards and a pair from 41 yards out, to give Southern Miss a 16-0 halftime lead.
McCaleb's first kick was set up by a 75-yard completion from Almond to Damien Carter which put USM at the Tulane 17.
Almond, a senior, made his last home appearance a memorable one, completing 18-of-30 passes. He hooked up with tight end Shawn Nelson on a 63-yard scoring strike midway through the third quarter, giving Southern Miss a 23-0 lead. Nelson had five receptions for 113 yards.
McCaleb ended the scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Matt Forte finished with 137 yards rushing on 27 carries for Tulane, but Southern Mississippi's defense limited the Green Wave to just 18 yards passing in the first half.
In his first start at tailback for Southern Miss, Cody Hull rushed for 85 yards.
The Golden Eagles haven't had a losing season since going 3-7-1 in 1993.
