Saturday, November 30, 2013 01:00 PM
(ET)
Recap: Southern Mississippi 62, Alabama-Birmingham 27
SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 30, 2013
Southern Mississippi 62, Alabama-Birmingham 27: Nick Mullens threw for 370 yards and five touchdowns as the Golden Eagles mercifully snapped their 23-game losing streak with a stunningly efficient road victory over the Blazers.
Southern Mississippi (1-11, 1-7 Conference USA), which entered with nine of its 11 losses coming by at least 21 points, avoided becoming the first FBS team in more than a quarter-century to suffer back-to-back winless seasons. The Golden Eagles had not scored more than 23 points in a game all year heading into this one, but posted 28 points in the third quarter alone on Saturday to rally from an eight-point halftime deficit in their season finale.
Mullens (24-of-39) threw touchdown passes to five different players, while Kendrick Hardy had two rushing TDs as part of his 106 rushing yards. UAB (2-10, 1-7) scored two touchdowns on passes from Jonathan Perry to Jamarcus Nelson, while Darrin Reaves and Darius Powell scored touchdowns on the ground for the Blazers.
Despite a pair of first-half turnovers, UAB led 21-13 at intermission. Perry's 48-yard touchdown pass to Nelson gave the Blazers a 14-7 lead in the final minute of the first quarter and, after two field goals by Southern Mississippi, Powell rushed for a 23-yard touchdown to seemingly give UAB control of the game.
However, Mullens threw three touchdowns in the third quarter and ran for a 1-yard score in the period to turn the contest around completely. Hardy tacked on a pair of 3-yard TD runs in the fourth quarter and Mullens added his fifth scoring strike of the game as the Golden Eagles notched their first victory since defeating Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24, 2011.
Nov 30, 2013
Southern Mississippi 62, Alabama-Birmingham 27: Nick Mullens threw for 370 yards and five touchdowns as the Golden Eagles mercifully snapped their 23-game losing streak with a stunningly efficient road victory over the Blazers.
Southern Mississippi (1-11, 1-7 Conference USA), which entered with nine of its 11 losses coming by at least 21 points, avoided becoming the first FBS team in more than a quarter-century to suffer back-to-back winless seasons. The Golden Eagles had not scored more than 23 points in a game all year heading into this one, but posted 28 points in the third quarter alone on Saturday to rally from an eight-point halftime deficit in their season finale.
Mullens (24-of-39) threw touchdown passes to five different players, while Kendrick Hardy had two rushing TDs as part of his 106 rushing yards. UAB (2-10, 1-7) scored two touchdowns on passes from Jonathan Perry to Jamarcus Nelson, while Darrin Reaves and Darius Powell scored touchdowns on the ground for the Blazers.
Despite a pair of first-half turnovers, UAB led 21-13 at intermission. Perry's 48-yard touchdown pass to Nelson gave the Blazers a 14-7 lead in the final minute of the first quarter and, after two field goals by Southern Mississippi, Powell rushed for a 23-yard touchdown to seemingly give UAB control of the game.
However, Mullens threw three touchdowns in the third quarter and ran for a 1-yard score in the period to turn the contest around completely. Hardy tacked on a pair of 3-yard TD runs in the fourth quarter and Mullens added his fifth scoring strike of the game as the Golden Eagles notched their first victory since defeating Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24, 2011.
