Golden Eagles doomed in first road trip by slow start, missed opportunities

Southern Miss left the nest but failed to fly.

Former and future conference-mate Louisiana Tech scored three times in the first quarter, and the Golden Eagles couldn’t recover, losing 30-20 in their first road trip of the season.

The Bulldogs used a pick-six in the second quarter and a goal-line stand in the third to negate USM’s second half adjustment on defense. Louisiana Tech punted on seven straight possessions and were packed up in three plays on four of those drives.

Southern Miss had reached midfield when Kolbe Fields picked off quarterback Braylon Braxton less than a minute into the second frame. The Eagles later drove 74 yards into the red zone but left the field empty-handed after a missed field goal.

Louisiana Tech closed the first half with a 30-10 lead when Clay Thevenin scored inside the final minute of the half. Southern Miss responded with a 12-play, 86-yard drive early in the second half, but it would be also be fruitless after failing to score in four attempts inside the 2-yard line.

Davis Dalton caught a tipped pass in the end zone with 30 seconds left in the game, but the only USM advantage it contributed to was its 441-338 yardage edge.

Braxton threw for 392 yards and two scores. He found Kyirin Heath for a 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The last USM quarterback to reach 392 passing yards in a game was Jack Abraham’s 421 against North Texas in 2019.

Bulldogs tight end Eli Finley caught six passes for 155 yards. The first 120 yards came on his first two touches in gains of 73 and 47 yards, both setting up early scores for Louisiana Tech.

The Golden Eagles drop to 2-2, but do return home for the fourth time in the first five weeks of the season when they host Jacksonville State. That game will kick at 6 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.

This story was originally published September 20, 2025 at 10:13 PM.