Published: August 31, 2008 02:49 am            

Austin Power

Former West Lauderdale standout Davis accounts for four TDs as Eagles open Fedora era in style

By Chris Brennaman

Staff Writer

HATTIESBURG – While Hurricane Gustav is bearing down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, a different kind of storm was brewing here inside M.M. Roberts Stadium.

Southern Miss (1-0) totaled 633 yards of offense — a new school record — in a season-opening, 51-21 win over visiting Louisiana-Lafayette.

More than a third of those yards — 222 to be exact — came on Damion Fletcher’s 21 carries. His previous career high was 211 yards.

“There were some questions about the offensive line coming into the game,” Fletcher said. “I think those were answered. They did a great job opening up holes for me.”

The win ushered in the Larry Fedora Era as the longtime offensive coordinator proved his mantra of “attack, attack, attack.” The Golden Eagles never let up on the Ragin’ Cajuns (0-1) as they scored 23 second half points.

“One down, a bunch more to go,“ Fedora said after the game.

“It was a different being on the sideline, I almost didn’t know what I was doing. (Offensive Coordinator Darrell Wyatt) is calling the plays, but I’m definitely not mum on the headsets.”

After months of speculation, the biggest secret in Hattiesburg was finally revealed as former West Lauderdale standout Austin Davis was named the starting quarterback.

The redshirt freshman made the most of his debut completing five of his first seven passes including a 23-yard touchdown strike to Ed Morgan. The score came two plays after a C.J. Bailey interception – one of two picks for the Nasty Bunch defense in the first quarter.

“Those were two big plays,” Fedora said of the interceptions. “When the defense does something like that, the offense has to convert them and say ‘See, when you do that we’re going to keep taking care of business.’“

Davis finished with 206 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns – his other coming to highly touted freshman DeAndre Brown in the fourth quarter. Southern Miss was facing a 3rd and 10 from the Cajun 29 when Davis lofted a pass into the back of the end zone for Brown.

“It was late in the game and we were pounding the ball,” Davis said. “They thought we were trying to run out the clock, so we threw a play-action pass on them. He just beat the guy on the sideline and I just laid it up and he made the play.”

Fletcher, who moved into third all-time on the Southern Miss career rushing list, got the scoring started for USM on a 14-yard carry around left end with just under four minutes gone off the clock.

The Golden Eagles added three touchdowns in the second quarter – one more by Fletcher and a pair of 1-yard runs by Davis. Louisiana-Lafayette added two of its own to cut Southern Miss’ halftime lead to 20 points.

Just as the teams returned to the field for the second half the rain began to fall, but the USM offense showed no ill effects. The Golden Eagles concluded a 10-play, 61-yard drive with a 25-yard field goal by Britt Barefoot. Davis completed 3-of-4 passes on the series.

Neither team was as sure-handed on the next two drives. Brown put the ball on the turf, but Southern Miss maintained possession. On the next play, Davis threw his only interception of the game. The Eagles’ defense gave their QB the ball back in a hurry, recovering a fumble two plays later. That turnover led to a Bubba Kirksey touchdown. Kirksey gave the home team its first double 100-yard game since 2002 with his 110 yards.

USM converted the Cajuns’ fourth and final turnover into points on Brown’s touchdown. The receiver from Ocean Springs led the Eagles with 92 yards.

        

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