HATTIESBURG, Mississippi.- The eyes of global school football were on Southern Miss on Thursday night, and Southern Miss did not live up to the situation.
Southern Miss on Thursday lost the first Football Bowl Subdivision game of the 2020 season, falling to South Alabama 32-21.The Golden Eagles’ defense allowed 363 yards per pass as the offensive struggled to gain yards on the ground, averaging only 2.6 run-consistent yards.
It’s the first time Southern Miss has lost her opening since 2017, when the Golden Eagles lost to Kentucky.
Here are 4 conclusions of Southern Miss’s defeat in the first FBS match:
South Alabama Quarterback Desmond Trotter didn’t look like Thursday’s top subtle pin.Most of her deep throws remained in the air for too long, leading to two simple southern miss interceptions and some other missed opportunities where open receivers couldn’t.Trotter and Quarterback Chance Lovertich beat the Golden Eagles for 363 yards and three touchdowns in just 18 assists.Twelve of the passes lasted 10 yards or more and five of the first.passes lasted 30 yards or more.
Southern Miss was one of the worst groups in school football last year, with an average of 117.5 yards consistent with the game.This ranked 121th out of 130 FBS groups. The Golden Eagles started at even worse speed on Thursday night, running just 95 yards in 37 hauls.Freshman Frank Gore Jr. provided some stability in his debut, leading the team with 32 yards in 12 attempts.But without a constant and hasty attack, Southern Miss’s attack remains one-dimensional.
Senior Quarterback Jack Abraham has been an effective pin.There’s no indication he’s lost that ability either.Abraham hit a 22-of-32 pass for 314 yards. He joined the half-time after completing 12 of his 14 passes.attempts, and one of the incomplete passes fell.
Despite the fact that Abraham played for five offensive coordinators in five school seasons, he still controlled to build a productive career.Given the way he was in his senior campaign, it looks like Abraham might be on his way to another strong year.
Although the stadium is limited to 25% of its capacity due to precautions opposed to COVID-19, Southern Miss’s crowd has played an important role in the match, when referees made questionable calls, enthusiasts booed, when the defense called for noise, enthusiasts tuned it in.Obviously, there’s a difference between 9,000 applauding enthusiasts and 36,000 applauding enthusiasts, but the silence wasn’t as deafening as some viewers would have expected.