The Southern Miss Golden Eagles ended their season with a 52-20 loss to Troy on Saturday, as the Trojans scored 21 points in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Southern Miss finished the season 1-11 overall and 0-8 in Sun Belt Conference play.
Southern Miss opened the scoring with a long drive, capped by Kenyon Clay’s 1-yard rushing touchdown. The Golden Eagles added a two-point conversion on a trick play, with Bryce Lofton passing to Kyrin Heath, a transfer from Mississippi State, for an early 8-0 lead.
Troy responded with 10 points in the first quarter, taking a 10-8 lead by the end of the period. Southern Miss was held scoreless in the second quarter, while Troy extended its lead with a 14-yard touchdown run by Damien Taylor, sending the Trojans into halftime with a 17-8 advantage.
Southern Miss cut the deficit early in the second half when Tate Rodemaker connected with Larry Simmons on a 75-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 17-14. Troy answered later in the third quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Caldwell to Trae Swartz, increasing the lead to 24-14.
Rodemaker found Ti Mims for a 4-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, narrowing the score to 24-20. However, Troy responded with three quick touchdowns in less than two minutes. Taylor broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run, followed by a pick-six by Ian Conerly-Goodly, and Jordan Lovett finished the surge with a 5-yard rushing touchdown to seal the win.
Rodemaker passed for 234 yards, throwing two touchdowns—one to Simmons, who recorded 90 receiving yards, and another to Mims, who added 77 yards. Rodemaker’s two late interceptions allowed Troy to pull away and secure the win.
USM Interim Head Coach Reed Stringer reflected on his team’s effort throughout the season, particularly from the senior class.
“I felt like we were ready for this game today,” Stringer said. “We have to play better, smarter, and take advantage of opportunities, but I am proud of our seniors. They kept coming to practice, they kept trying to lead, and the team played hard.”
Missed opportunities in the first half, including missed field goals, played a role in the Golden Eagles’ struggles.
“We had opportunities in the first half, but we just didn’t capitalize on them,” Stringer said. “The game could have been a lot closer at halftime.”
Troy’s Taylor was dominant, rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns, including a 56-yard run in the third quarter that extended Troy’s lead. The Trojan defense added back-to-back interceptions in the fourth quarter, returning one for a touchdown.
Despite the loss, Stringer expressed optimism for the future, citing the development of younger players.
“I am really excited about the core of young players… with the right combination of coaches and schemes, I think they can come out next year and get this thing rolling,” he said.
Southern Miss will now focus on rebuilding for the 2025 season.
