By By Stan Caldwell / EMG sports writer
Sept. 10, 2002
HATTIESBURG University of Southern Mississippi head coach Jeff Bower re-emphasized his main theme from Saturday's 23-20 victory over Illinois at his weekly press briefing Monday.
USM overcame a 14-2 first quarter deficit to defeat the Fighting Illini, the first Big Ten team to play in the state of Mississippi. Trailing 17-15, early in the fourth quarter, the Golden Eagles scored the winning touchdown on a 50-yard run by senior Derrick Nix, then held Illinois to just a field goal the rest of the way.
The victory boosted the Golden Eagles to 2-0 for the young season as they prepare for their Conference USA opener at M.M. Roberts Stadium Saturday against Memphis.
USM coaches were particularly pleased with the play of senior tailback Derrick Nix, who ran 27 times for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Nix's effort earned him Player of the Week honors both for the Golden Eagles and for C-USA, and came despite missing most of the second quarter due to dehydration.
Nix ran behind a dominant offensive line surge led by strong guard Torrin Tucker of Southeast Lauderdale and center Jim Hicks of Philadelphia.
Nevertheless, Saturday's game took its toll on the Golden Eagles. Bower read an extensive injury list of players who were banged up coming out of the Illinois game.
Foremost among the injury questions are starting wide receiver Marvin Young, who suffered a sterno-clavicular sprain, cornerback and kick returner John Eubanks, who played despite a knee sprain and quadricep contusion, and reserve linebacker Dillon Cleckler, who sprained an ankle. Also, reserve tight end Jon Simmons will miss the Memphis game with a sprained ankle.
Several other key players suffered minor injuries, but are expected to play Saturday. They include Tucker (dislocated finger), linebacker Rod Davis (deep calf bruise), reserve tailback Anthony Harris (dislocated thumb) and starting wide receiver Kenneth Johnson (knee sprain).
Of those, Davis is probably the one USM coaches will watch the closest, if only because of what he means to the Eagle defense. It was Davis' sack of Illinois quarterback Jon Beutjer on third-and-goal from the USM 6 that keyed a big goal-line stand late in the third quarter.
Davis finished with five solo tackles (including two for 19 yards in losses), five assists, two sacks and two quarterback knockdowns to earn team and conference Player of the Week honors.
Punter Mark Haulman was special teams Player of the Week for the Eagles. He kicked 10 times for a 44.1 yard average, including two that were downed inside the Illinois 20. One of those was downed at the 1-yard-line and led to USM's first points of the game, a safety on a sack.
USM has already begun putting Illinois behind it as it prepares for Saturday's game against Memphis. The Tigers are 1-1 after dropping a 38-16 decision to Ole Miss Saturday at Oxford. However, Memphis is one of USM's oldest rivals, and the Tigers defeated the Eagles 22-17 last season at Memphis.