HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The ULM football team (3-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) dropped a game to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt) in a bowl-clinching victory for the home team. With a 49-21 score, ULM was competing with the Golden Eagles in the first half, but Southern Miss continued to find offensive success in the second half to break away. The rain was also a factor, pouring in waves throughout the game.
 
Landon Graves got his first career start in Hattiesburg, breaking all of his career highs in the process. Graves threw 12-for-26, posting 103 yards and a touchdown. The redshirt sophomore also ran for 24 yards, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. 
 
Nic Trujillo posted 19 yards off four receptions, averaging 4.8 yards per catch. Tyler Griffin posted 13 yards on two catches, also claiming a touchdown. Jonathan Bibbs caught the long ball of 34 yards, his only catch of the day.
 
Zach Palmer-Smith led the rushing room, along with total offense, collecting 111 yards off 11 carries. Palmer-Smith also ran in a touchdown. Braylon McReynolds and Tyrell Reed Jr. also got in on the action, McReynolds posting 36 yards and Reed registering 34. Julian Nixon also saw action, rushing two yards for the third touchdown of the game.
 
Noah Flemmings led the defense with seven tackles (two solo) on the day, along with a sack and a tackle for loss. Zy Jackson also jumped in for a career-high six tackles (five solo). Kevontay Wells picked up a quarterback hurry and half a sack to go with his five tackles (two solo). Billy Pullen claimed half a sack and D'Arco Perkins-McAllister also picked up a sack. 
 
Punter Makenzie Ryan averaged 47.8 yards across four punts, launching a long punt of 58 yards to reach inside the 20. New kicker Jacob Chambliss also contributed, notching all three extra points.
 
ULM opened on offense, picking up a quick first down from Graves to Julian Nixon. Zach Palmer-Smith then broke free for 27 yards to enter Southern Miss territory. Braylon McReynolds and Palmer-Smith exchanged rushes before Graves got the ball to Tyler Griffin in the end zone for the first touchdown of the day. Jacob Chambliss notched the extra point as the Warhawks led 7-0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
 
The Golden Eagle drive began on the USM31, as running back Matt Jones broke through for a pair of first downs. A penalty for the ULM defense got Southern Miss on the nine-yard line, as Jones rushed ahead for the home team touchdown, tying things at seven.
 
A pass interference call pushed the Warhawk offense ahead to midfield, Graves with a few keepers to make positive gains. After Graves launched the ball 34 yards to Jonathan Bibbs to enter Golden Eagle territory, a targeting call on the defense pushing ULM further ahead. After three short gains in the red zone, Chambliss attempted a field goal that was just wide to maintain the 7-7 score.
 
After Southern Miss regained control of the ball, the Golden Eagles made steady gains before the first quarter concluded. A penalty against the Warhawks pushed Southern Miss ahead, as Robert Briggs converted on fourth and short. Kyirin Heath also converted a fourth and short, running 34 yards for the second Golden Eagle touchdown, making it a 14-7 score with 12:05 remaining in the half.
 
A short three-and-out for the Warhawks gave the ball back to the Golden Eagles, who quickly capitalized with a first down. Another penalty on ULM's defense moved Southern Miss into opponent territory, Braylon Braxton passing the ball 39 yards to Tychaun Chapman for the touchdown. Another three-down possession for ULM gave possession back to Southern Miss with 6:55 remaining in the half.
 
The Warhawk defense attempted to push the tides in their direction, Stephen Saywahn and Noah Flemmings forcing the punt. A pair of short gains then brought up third down and six, Trujillo with the seven-yard catch to get the first down. A penalty in the Warhawk favor brought ULM even closer. Palmer-Smith broke free to rush for 21 yards, reaching the end zone to chip away at the lead, with the 21-14 score.
 
As the Southern Miss pushed to move ahead with the ball, Seidrion Langston and Flemmings stuffing Briggs to prevent positive yardage. D'Arco Perkins-McAllister then got in on the action, sacking Braxton for eight yards. On third and 12, Kevontay Wells and Billy Pullen combined for another sack, making it fourth and 20 and forcing the punt. Time ran out in the first half, with the score holding at 21-14 in favor of the home team.
 
The Golden Eagle offense tried to extend the lead further, but ULM's defense battled to force them out. Noah Flemmings collected the team's third sack of the day to force the punt, but the catch was muffed by Perkins-McAllister and recovered by the home team. A three-yard rush by Jones extended the lead to two touchdowns, 28-14.
 
A quick 14-yard reception to Nate Sullivan Jr. got the Warhawks going with 10:01 remaining in the quarter, McReynolds then rushing for eight. After a pair of short gains, Graves' pass was intercepted by Chris Jones. A deep ball to Chapman had the Golden Eagles entering the red zone, Carl Chester claiming the touchdown.
 
After Graves was able to pass the ball five yards to Trujillo, a rush for loss pushed the Warhawks back. Graves tossed the ball, but the pass was intercepted by Anthony Richard Jr. for another Southern Miss drive. After a short gain, the Golden Eagles could not make any moves on the offense, Cliff Mosley batting down the ball on third down to force the punt. After a collection of first downs, the Warhawks were forced to punt and return the ball to Southern Miss.
 
Briggs broke through for 24 yards to collect the first down, Braxton then notching the 12-yard pass for another one. A 24-yard ball met Bralon Brown in the end zone, extending the Southern Miss lead further, 42-14 with 12:54 remaining in the contest.
 
Tyrell Reed Jr. entered the game with a fresh set of legs to move the Warhawks forward. On fourth down and 13, Reed rushed for 18 yards to give ULM a new set of downs on the two-yard line. Julian Nixon rushed up the middle for the third score of the day, making it a 42-21 score.
 
Two penalties for the Warhawks gave Southern Miss more momentum, shifting the offense to the ULM31. A 27-yard rush for Jaylin Carter then secured another touchdown for the Golden Eagles with 4:56 left in the game. Another penalty pushed the Warhawk offense back, ULM unable to convert on third and long. Southern Miss regained control of the ball, allowing the time to run out to claim the 49-21 victory.
 
The Warhawks went two-of-three in the red zone, going over 50% from third down (eight-of-15) and 100% from fourth down (one-of-one). Southern Miss was also 100% from fourth down, converting five of 11 third downs. ULM collected 312 total yards to USM's 445, leading in rushing yards with 207. Braxton and the Golden Eagles led in passing yards with 248. ULM's defense also led with three sacks to their zero, along with 32 solo tackles to the Golden Eagles' 21.
 
The Golden Eagles move to 4-0 in conference play, with ULM dropping to 1-3.  ULM Football will return home to open the month of November, hosting Old Dominion on Saturday (Nov. 1). Kickoff against the Monarchs is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Malone Stadium in Monroe. It will be ULM's military appreciation game and fans are encouraged to wear gray.