Southern Mississippi Slips Past Arkansas State, 31-19

Southern Mississippi’s win in the New Orleans Bowl was a lot like the rest of the Golden Eagles’ season -- a struggle.

Shawn Nelson caught a pair of second-half touchdowns, and Cody Hull had 161 yards rushing to lead Southern Mississippi over Arkansas State, 31-19, Tuesday night in the first of the season’s 28 bowl games.

Southern Mississippi endured plenty of turmoil long before arriving in Lafayette, where the New Orleans Bowl was moved because of Hurricane Katrina. The Golden Eagles had two games postponed in September because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, had to relocate temporarily to Memphis and played nine games in nine weeks to end the regular season.

Against Arkansas State, the Golden Eagles fumbled twice on their first two drives and didn’t take control until well into the second half.

Arkansas State tied the score at 17-17 in the third quarter on Nick Noce’s two-yard pass to Manuel Burton, but Dustin Almond answered with a 29-yard toss to Nelson to make it 24-17.

The Indians scored on a safety when Southern Mississippi punter Luke Johnson knocked the ball out of the back of the end zone after a bad snap. The Golden Eagles made it 31-19 on Almond’s six-yard pass to Nelson with 8:22 left.

Arkansas State (6-6) was in its first bowl since moving back up from Division I-AA. The Indians were in I-AA from 1982 to ‘91, and before that, their last postseason appearance was against Central Missouri State in the 1970 Pecan Bowl.

Southern Mississippi (7-5) made its fourth straight postseason appearance and eighth in nine years. The Golden Eagles beat North Texas, 31-10, in last year’s New Orleans Bowl.

Almond completed 17 of 32 passes for 253 yards, and Nelson had six catches for 121 yards and was named the game’s most valuable player.

Arkansas State was the first Sun Belt Conference team besides North Texas to represent the league in the New Orleans Bowl. North Texas went the last four years, winning once.