NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Zach Wilcke threw a pair of touchdown passes, Eric Scott returned an interception for a score and Southern Mississippi collected its first Football Bowl Subdivision win of the season, beating previously unbeaten Tulane 27-24 on Saturday night.
The Golden Eagles beat FCS opponent Northwestern State 64-10 last week.
Wilcke’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Jakarius Caston tied it at 17 late in the third quarter. Scott’s pick-6 stretched the Southern Miss lead to 27-17 with 7:07 remaining. Wilcke was 17-of-25 passing for 194 yards. Caston had eight receptions for 91 yards.Michael Pratt’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Jha’Quan Jackson for Tulane capped the scoring with 19 seconds left.
Tyjae Spears ran for 114 yards and two touchdowns for Tulane (3-1). Spears also made five catches for 74 yards. Spears’ 8-yard TD run and his 34-yard scoring run gave Tulane a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Southern Miss (2-2) ended a two-game skid in the series, a 30-13 loss in the 2020 Armed Forces Bowl and a 66-24 defeat at home during the 2020 regular season.
It was the 33rd meeting in the series dating to 1979, but the first in New Orleans since 2010, a 46-10 Southern Miss win at the Louisiana Superdome. It was also the first time the teams met in Yulman Stadium.