The South Florida Bulls made a triumphant return to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, after 21 years, overpowering the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 49-24 in an impressive display of resilience and offensive firepower at M. M. Roberts Stadium. The Bulls overcame an early 14-0 deficit, reeling off 28 unanswered points to take control of the game and secure their first-ever victory in Hattiesburg.
The game marked the first meeting between the programs in 20 years, and South Florida’s offense was unstoppable, racking up 562 total yards, including a staggering 369 yards on the ground. Defensively, the Bulls forced three turnovers and shut down Southern Miss after their hot start.
South Florida found themselves in an early hole, with Southern Miss jumping to a 14-0 lead within the first eight minutes. However, the Bulls quickly responded, launching a barrage of points that included 28 unanswered, leaving the Golden Eagles scrambling to keep pace. South Florida’s offensive surge was ignited by quarterback Byrum Brown, who delivered a stellar performance, completing 19 of 29 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns while adding 72 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Running backs Kelley Joiner Jr. and Nay’Quan Wright were dominant forces on the ground, combining for 222 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Joiner led the way with 117 yards and two scores, while Wright added 105 yards and capped off a 93-yard drive with a 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Sean Atkins was another key contributor for the Bulls, catching five passes for 87 yards. His performance moved him into third on USF’s all-time career receptions list, now with 134 catches.
After taking a 28-21 lead into halftime, the Bulls continued to apply pressure in the second half. A pivotal moment came early in the third quarter when, after a 35-yard strike from Brown to Atkins, USF set up for a field goal attempt. In a perfectly executed trick play, holder Ryan Bolduc lateralled the ball to kicker John Cannon, who ran 17 yards to the Southern Miss 3-yard line. Ta’Ron Keith finished the drive with a short touchdown run, giving the Bulls a commanding 35-21 lead.
Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Crawford tried to rally his team, driving deep into USF territory, but the Bulls’ defense came up big. Linebacker Mac Harris hit Crawford as he released the ball, causing a fluttering pass that USF’s Doug Blue-Eli intercepted with a diving catch, the Bulls’ second turnover of the game.
The Bulls capitalized on the turnover with a 93-yard touchdown drive, punctuated by Nay’Quan Wright’s 33-yard scoring run. A missed field goal by Southern Miss and a 50-yard touchdown burst from Kelley Joiner Jr. late in the fourth quarter effectively iced the game, giving South Florida an insurmountable 49-21 lead with 9:25 remaining.
Southern Miss managed only a field goal in the second half as the Bulls’ defense tightened its grip, holding the Golden Eagles to just 10 points over the final 52 minutes of the game.
With the victory, South Florida improves to 2-1 on the season and now turns its attention to a highly anticipated primetime clash against No. 10-ranked Miami at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The ESPN-televised game is expected to draw significant attention, as the Bulls look to carry their momentum into a major showdown against the Hurricanes.
For Southern Miss, the loss drops them to 1-2, and they will need to regroup as they continue their season with conference play looming.
The South Florida Bulls’ return to Hattiesburg after two decades proved to be a successful one, as they showcased both offensive balance and defensive toughness. With a key win under their belt, the Bulls are set for an exciting challenge against Miami, while Southern Miss will look to rebound from a tough loss.
