GMAC Bowl recap: Golden Eagles soar past Bobcats in Mobile, 28-7

Southern Miss finishes the season at 9-5

CUSA-fans.com has a new staff of team correspondents this season to help bring you, the fan, more detailed Conference USA football coverage. Today, our Head Football Writer Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum recaps the 2007 GMAC Bowl.

After a scoreless first quarter, Southern Miss exploded for 21-second quarter points and that would be more than enough to defeat the offensively challenged Ohio Bobcats in the 2007 GMAC Bowl in Mobile, AL on Sunday night. The Golden Eagles' 28-7 victory was their ninth win of the season.

Southern Miss players warm up before the 2007 GMAC Bowl.

Ohio (9-5), which was making its first bowl appearance in 38 years, became the first MAC team to lose in the GMAC Bowl in six seasons.

Early on, neither team's offense could muster anything. The defenses dominated and a plethora of flags littered the saturated turf at Ladd Peebles Stadium. The Golden Eagles and Bobcats, who uncharacteristically went to the air frequently early in the game, combined for only 82 total yards in the opening quarter.

With 8:33 remaining in the opening half, Southern Miss received the spark it needed when they caught Ohio in a blitz and back-up tailback Tory Harrison went 43 yards for the game's initial score.

A clutch third down and ten conversion that saw Jeremy Young hook up with Josh Barnes for 30 yards down to the Bobcats' two-yard line set up the Golden Eagles' next score. USM punched it in when Damion Fletcher scored from two yards.

With time winding down in the first half, Ohio was trying desperately to get some points on the board and cut into the lead before they headed to the locker room. Instead, Southern Miss linebacker James Denley picked off Brad Bower's pass and returned it 18 yards to give his team a commanding three touchdown cushion at the break.

Ohio, which surrendered 150 yards in the second quarter, needed a stop in the worst way to begin the second half. Its offense, which was not known for its quick strikes, would need more time than usual to erase such a large deficit.

Jeff Bower encouraged his team not to let up just because they were up 21-0 and to make a statement with their second half performance.

The Southern Miss marching band performs at halftime of the 2007 GMAC Bowl.

They made a statement alright. The Bobcats would be subjected to the death drive of all death drives. Southern Miss ran 17 plays to cover 80 yards and chewed up nearly ten minutes (9:55) of precious time off the clock. Ohio head coach Frank Solich said, "it seemed like a day and a half."

The lengthy drive was capped with a nine-yard scoring run by Fletcher, who used his speed to turn the corner before diving for the pylon.

Ohio did avoid being blanked when Austen Everson connected with Thomas Christy for a 13-yard touchdown with 9:34 remaining in the game.

USM didn't get the shutout, but that didn't take away from its dominating defensive display on a messy night on Alabama's Gulf Coast.

The Golden Eagles have become known for their strong defenses over the years and tonight was no different. They held OU to a meager 224 yards, including 47 on the ground.

Southern Miss runs out the clock in the 4th Quarter as they defeat Ohio 28-7 in the 2007 GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

The Bobcats' passing attack could not carry the increased load. Everson and Bower combined to go 15-of-37 for 177 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

In their defense, star running back Kalvin McRae—who was held to only 38 yards on 10 carries—was most likely less than 100 percent after missing considerable practice time due to spending time in Atlanta with his family following the tragic death of his nephew.

It likely would not have made a difference on this night.

Junior linebacker Denley thought highly of USM's performance against the Bobcats.

"We played one of the best defensive games we've played all year. Guys were swarming everywhere."

Jeremy Young and the Golden Eagles didn't light it up offensively, but they did what had to be done. Young finished 14-of-22 for 160 yards and a pick.

Ohio's defense did a commendable job on fabulous freshman Damion Fletcher, limiting him to 58 yards on 20 carries. However, he also caught three passes for 28 yards and was named the game's MVP.

Tory Harrison, Fletcher's back-up, totaled 68 yards on nine carries and received the offensive player of the game honors.