Arkansas State Vs. Southern Mississippi

welcome to Hattisburg Mississippi home to the Southern Mississippi golden eagles and fans have been eagerly anticipating this matchup at the Rock today a showdown of a couple of from the Sun Belt as we'll see the Arkansas state Red Wolves taking on the winners of three straight the Southern Mississippi golden eagles for EA Sports college football ree Davis with you alongside David Pollock and Jesse Palmer time to get this game started [Music] and the golden eagles will kick it away first he'll start the return inside is five solid return decent field position as he goes out of Bounds at the 30 the red wolves offense is on the field for the first time today sometimes you sense that what the kids call Swagger is a false verado this dude is nothing but real at wide receiv receiver he's got that speed and it just you see DBS they're probably watching them come on the field right now and they understand it's going to be a long game this guy can go get it he can run he can do a little bit of everything at the wide receiver's SP I like this guy as a running back because he can run between the tackles and he can also go outside he can really do it all halfway there on first down it's second and [Applause] five red pass it's complete he's run out of bounds but he's got enough to move the sticks man this guy is so Dynamic and that's why you want to try to get him the ball as many ways as you can that time it's a screen throw and he had some nice blocks down field but with his speed and Elusive running ability this dude is dangerous from the 44 yd line the offense snaps it on first down used the play fake now to throw and he can't escape and down he goes the defense just simply not fooled by the play action often times an offense you're hoping the Run f is going to slow down those pass rushers but man oh man they had their ears pinned back a big play for the defense with the first down sack now Advantage d as the offense comes up on second down dropping back it's rer oh he's going to take a shot at the DB and it's incomplete going for the massive explosive play instead they're looking at a third down offense calls a timeout here critically important to make sure they have the right play called and everyone on the same page here I'm not positive but that first down marker might be in the next County they'll run the option he'll toss it Midfield he's got a tremendous run he was full four after taking that pitch just sweet execution and I think on that last run play on third down here early in the game they're making a statement that we believe we're the more physical team and we're going to run the football even if you know it's coming at you nice job they've got the ball at Midfield I expect to see more run plays coming up going up top on first down got his man quickly I like the decision by the quarterback here just get the ball out of your hands get it to your playmaker a lot of times they'll dance and make even bigger plays than he did here but it was still a positive game still some work to do after that completion at second down pocket starts to collapse caught near the sticks it's Bryant ripped off a huge chunk play on that one as he gets the first down before he steps out of bounds how nice is it as a quarterback when you don't have to throw post routes to get great stats no I can just throw it quickly to one of the fastest players in the entire and let him burn miss defense and the red wolves trying to get a touchdown on first and goal he's right on target he's down at the one and they almost had the touchdown pass on that one great play by the cornerback he was just way too physical at the point of attack he beat his man trying to block him and he tackled that receiver on the SC looking to throw it again and it's in as he was trying to finish the drive with a score well that last incompletion is a good example of why your timing has to be so good as a quarter because the windows they open and they close so quickly in this part of the field and he takes it in for the score touchdown red wolves and everything works out for the offense right they went for it on fourth and one earlier was a big decision a big gamble they got it and now you pay it off with the touchdown head coach is loving that about to kick it off after punching it in for the touchdown fielded In The End Zone it's Buckley gets it out to the 20 about 5 yd short of where he'd be if he' just taken a knee in the end zone so the Southern Mississippi golden eagles offense will have its first possession of the game as we take a look at our impact players for this one what are you looking for Jesse for a guy to make an impact well these are simply put the leaders of this football team and generally games go how these guys play if they make plays they've got a shot to win this one no doubt they got to show up these are the team years these guys have to play well if they're going to win the football game he had all kinds of company as soon as he got it he had to fight his way back just to get to the line of scrimmage it's hard to run on a defense that comes off the ball like that and runs to the football like that good luck no holes anywhere back to throw it's BR maker firing to the right complete crosses the 30 he got away and that is a Nifty bit of navigation to get through that traffic and get the first [Applause] down running to the left they stop him cold maybe gets a yard to the 34 yeah the running back didn't get much here but you know you clearly want to always establish the tempo run the football be consistent make that defense physically Meet The Challenge on second down he'll let fly reacted well to the tip but just couldn't squeeze the football instead of the turnover it'll be third down and man I tell you what I just love his instincts you can tell when the ball's being passed he sees it and he breaks on the football that's why he's in the top 10 in interceptions this season just such a great feel in the passing game and you got to be careful when you attack him wide open down field they're able to keep him out of the end zone he'll be stopped at two after well after that last play you can see how electrifying this guy is and how special he is after he makes the catch if I'm on offense I'm trying to find a lot of ways to get him touches in this game that's the end of the quarter and Arkansas state is on top we've played one before we move on let's have a look at the stats got it try to open the quarter by cashing in on this big opportunity deep in the Red Zone on the option quick TOs and he's brought down at the line of scrimmage and the ball will stay at the two and the D Deni him on second and [Applause] goal trying to bully their way in he worked his way ever closer all the way down to the one yd line they'll come to the line just one yd shy of the goal line on third down the offense showing motion from the tight end trying to get a read on the D they're going to run it and he takes it to the house touchdown Souther Miss and I love the physicality of this offense it's third and goal it's money time I've got to be more physical than you exactly what this offense just did put the ball on the ground and put it in the end zone lining up to cover the kick after that touchdown Drive no return coming he'll call for the fair catch Arkansas State ready to go back to work on offense and David how they would love to stick it in the end zone one more time after that last drive and once you get the defense on their heels and you back them a little bit you getting a little bit of Rhythm it's really hard to stop Jesse and they're going to try to do it again right here and if you're this play caller you're loving what's happening right now because everything you dialed up on that last Drive ended up working out you're just looking at your play sheet everything you're picking is working let's see if they can pull it off again here getting some heat they'll run the screen they finally get him sto but what a good job by that front wall to set up the screen and create some range for their running back back it's first and 10 from the 38 yd line pulls it and fires to the left at the 45 on his way hit the gas kid wide open the head touchdown Red woles made the snag and strolled his way into the end zone he coming into the game you look at the stats and you say top 10 offense in scoring so they better be able to create what explosive plays another explosive plays they've been doing it all year long those plays are back Breakers defenses just can't contain this offense the option look he'll pitch it they get it into the end zone two-point conversion is good the lead stands at seven quick strike offense on that three play scoring drive and the Capper came on that 602 yd run to the house he'll bring it back from inside to five find any crease in that kickoff coverage and he'll be stopped at the 17 Southern Mississippi ready to send that offense back onto the field that last drive an absolute aerial assault for the touchdown Jesse it was a nice job in play calling too David just giving the quarterback some easy looks and reads so he could go out and execute and he knew exactly where to go with the football everything looked really really easy he was hot the ball was coming out of his hands the defense better do different and runs like that are like body blows in a boxing match four five sixy Gaines early turn into 203 40 yd gains later they really wear down defenses and they test their physicality fires to the wide out it's caught he will step out of bounds but not the big pick up and a first down for this offense we've reached the two-minute warning and we have ourselves a ball game and they have a chance to take the lead here before the half looking to throw it's spaker they're setting up the screen and he goes out of bounds after a nice on that [Applause] one an ill advised play by that Defender as he makes contact well after the throw and it'll cost his defense the defense in a most benevolent move giving the off a new set of downs they're trying and here's a fumble way behind the line oh looks as if the defense got it and he breaks into the open TouchDown Arkansas State don't just get the ball score with the ball and the defense did and the defense comes with the blitz nice job getting to the quarterback and don't just get there try to strip that football out they get the QB to the ground the ball's out they scoop it up take it all the way way back to the house for six let's go to the studio now and check in with Kevin Conor Kevin what do you got week in and week out guys you never know what's going to happen in college football check this out Illinois is ahead right now but the school that produced the likes of pck buus and red range has some work to do before this is over they're up by a field goal over Michigan we'll Circle back if anything big happens you should know about thanks for the update on that Kevin let us know when it goes final the hurry up now second down Lo [Applause] kicking he's looking to throw trying to get to it that pass is incomplete and they might be fortunate it wasn't not threee for a fumble it'll be third down and now let's see if the offense can bail itself out after the second down Miss F heel off one deep down the left side and trying to put points on the board on third down now they're staring at Fourth Down the golden eagles will line up to punt it away the punter going to get his first work of the afternoon boots his first of the day away was called on four times in the victory last week not able to pop the big return but they've got the ball back and ready to go with a fresh possession Arkansas state has it ready to go to work on offense they've been outstanding here in this first half might as well try for The Knockout punch David yeah confidence has to be in an alltime eye great first half I'm going to get more pmer I'm not scared with the lead when I got the football Le yeah if it ain't broke don't fix it you can see the quarterback's body language he wants to go he wants to go Tempo he wants to take shots they're trying to light this scoreboard up now it's a first down from the 43 yd line wide receiver coming across in motion he's going to pass throwing right it's caught down field and chunk plays are the name of the game and they get one here before the defense finally makes a stop it's now first and 10 from the 24 yd line feeling some heat and the defense is all over the quarterback and down he goes the offense uses the timeout to stop the clock and they'll get a quick breather well we knew coming into this game this defense had some matchups they felt really good about up front a one-1 right there getting to the quarterback creating a negative play and they're going to need these guys to start winning more of those and the ball comes out what a disastrous play how about that alert play from the defense to scoop it up and he's brought down and his defense gets the ball back for it own offense set on first [Applause] down he Wast no time and comes out throwing and the pass is intercepted and they'll close in on him after a good return on the interception who says defensive backs don't have hands nice job breaking on the football and making the catch a lot of times you see guys SWAT it down or you see them trying to catch it it looks like they have two left hands defensive backs don't catch real well nice job breaking on the football nice job securing the int and actually catching it back to throw it's rer they're bringing Heat hit hard just as he released it on on first down and just couldn't get it to the receiver after the incompletion let's see if they go back to the air on second and 10 from the 33 couldn't connect on first down now back to the air can't find a man and he'll be knocked down at the 40 the offense waste no time getting the timeout call this defense needed something to go right man they're down big already in the first half get to the quarterback get him on the ground this could start some momentum going back the other direction this is a third and long on the option running with power oh and he can't hold the pitch and the ball's loose and the defense got it and they'll drag him down after a good return as a Defender you love the big hits you know what the cherry on the Sunday is you get the big hit and force the fumble looking to move it through the air they make the stop after the catch and still some work to do to pick up that first down just a few seconds remaining here as they try to put something up before halftime they'll use a timeout right before halim maybe time for one or two more plays now on second down he's looking to throw pressure coming and the quarterback will be slung down back at the 43 we've got a timeout in the waning seconds of the half maybe a chance to get off a couple more plays on Third and long a check down would be the last resort throws toward the end zone fires into a world of traffic and it's picked off and after the interception and the turnover this defense has set its offense up for Vis as end of the second quarter that means it's time to join Kevin in our halftime update man we've been looking forward to this one all week a fun start to things in Hattisburg and it' be easy to say these two offenses are glad we've hit halftime based on their respective performances it would also be accurate turnovers and sacks have told the story so far and you got to believe the play calling has been the issue right time to shred those game plans and just get back to basics looks as if we are set to crank it up here in the second [Applause] half and no chance at a return here they'll start this drive at their own 25 Southern Mississippi has it back and the golden eagle offense headed to the field if they're going to get on top in this game they're going to have to find a way to get the running game going in the second half agree so it can create some more balance some more unpredictability I feel like this def has got a good beat on what they're doing especially if they don't mix it up a little bit so I do look for a little second half running the football pmer out of this group and I think the thing Dave is they just got to be more physical I don't think this is a schem question about trying different run plays I think it's up to the Big Fellas up front they've just got to make the decision that they're going to be tougher here in the second half so that they can win this game they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one and the golden eagles want to crank the tempo I got to be honest I am shocked just how well the defense has played in this game especially stopping to run we talked about statistically how they've struggled this season they have put the clamps down in this one and they're just playing with a ton of intensity so an example of a tight end doing a little unheralded work to set up a much better third down situation and I like the QB here ree I like the decision where I understand let's get this football out let's get some positive yards and then get to third down and we can still have a better situation now because we rid of the football and took the yards that were there and his MERS are probably rattling after that big hit but he did get the first down it's tough on the defense there third down you're in zone coverage everybody's watching the quarterback and you're trying to make a break on the ball but you just got it out of his hands too quickly and the throw was too accurate really nothing you can do there it's now a fresh set of in really good defense you know you're trying to stay as close as you can to all these targets and most importantly those open tackles and getting them on the ground as soon as they catch it that's a major deal for defenses and that was a good example thereof this has got to be disappointing if you're the offense guys you were expecting to have a lot of success running the ball especially against this defense which has struggled so much this season but just nothing doing and he is finding wide Defenders all over the field his third interception of the day he goes out of bounds but he just about did it himself what a return the interception guys we'll see if this red wolves offense can get moving that fumble in plus territory looking for the end zone and it's caught touchdown Red Wolves they are seizing control and taking away hope as they push out the lead in this week eight Showdown that is exactly what most offenses will do big momentum play my defense creates a turnover I'm being aggressive I'm going for the big score big play down the field they get rewarded they get the big passing touchdown and they thought about a return Then thought better of it they'll bring it out to the 25 all right guys so here's the offense back on the field again they're going to throw it to start the drive complete downfield that one could really put this drive into high gear as they have a first down at the seven here's his offense with a fresh set of downs off the play fake on first down he's got it defense caught out of position and they get him down finally at the 38 they are dialed in on this drive a couple of Chunk plays and now they'll snap it on first down here's the hand off just what this def was looking for sets him up at6 with the first down first down you know you always want to establish the running game how about this offense nothing fancy run the football be physical get a big game the golden eagles will line it up on First and 10 wide out in motion to the air on first down shoots it to the left he's got an open man touchdown Southern Mississippi real put it in and just made the house call got to start cutting into this lead somewhere now the question will they have enough time but that's step one you got to get that first score you got to get back in the ball game and get some of that momentum back on your side you still got more work to do but step one accomplished about to kick it away after scoring the touchdown looking for an alley from inside his own 10 not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 Arkansas State ready to go back to work on offense that last Drive really productive David wound up with a touchdown they'll try to do it again yeah so I don't expect this offense to change too much Reese they had a great drive and the pass rush is effective and they tackle him at the 19 the defense has had some bad stuff happened to them today but one bright spot for them has been the pass rush they've shown the ability to get after the opposing quarterback we'll see if they can get a little better protection after the sack it's second and [Applause] 12 the give to the back Nifty run there pick up of six out through the 25 it's a nice game but the big theme Here is they just haven't been able to get the game going on off they've been very onedimensional they're just not being physical enough to attack from the gun leaves it on the inside with the back they'll keep this drive moving by picking up the first down they have it at the 36 here's this offense with a fresh set of downs looking for room it's cross Crea good effort on that one to work his way up to the 42 coaches always harp about staying ahead of the chains and when you can run with that type of efficiency on first down man you are doing just that they'll ride the running back and leave it with him gets enough for the first down but not sure they'll get another playoff here in the third quarter that's the end of the quarter and Arkansas state is on top let's take a quick look at the national rankings to see how this playoff race is shaping up one more quarter to play and it might be unlikely but a it's college football comebacks happen the red wolves are on the move [Applause] they'll give it to the back just buried him really nice stop there from this senior leader at this point of the game the offense has the lead the offensive coordinator knows they want to keep running the football so he's going back he's looking at his playlist and he's saying which runs work the best for me in this game what can I lean on right here and they got him for a sack man I think this quarterback needs to take his offensive line out for dinners more often because they're not protecting him and sometimes it doesn't even look like they're trying that now the sixth sack of the game for this defense oh he just flat dropped it he had the ball and didn't look it all the way in and it'll be for down and the red wolves will bring the punt team onto the field finally sending out a punter in this one got to make sure they earn their letter couldn't get away from that cover team and they've got him down Southern Mississippi ready to send that offense back onto the field Line Get Set first down wasting no time throwing on this drive he just got rid of that one to save the down didn't see anything he liked and last incompletion leaves him with second and 10 from the 23 to the air it's raker good timing on the quick out and defensively this is exactly what you want right you got the big lead so you can play Big Zone coverages just keep the ball in front of you keep your eye on the quarterback rally to the football gang tackle you're going to win this game and the he will get home and the quarterback goes down at the 17 and I love playing man coverage on the back end getting those receivers faces don't let them feel comfortable and run Zone where they can find all these holes in the zone and my Rush can't get home pressure them pressure him pressure another interception that's his fourth of the day on first down here comes this offense give is a work on that clock and he'll run across the sidelines after the good game and I like the first thought process right here run the football we want to run that clock with the lead thank you to the defense for forcing that turnover setting us up now if we can put a few first downs together we're looking really good quarterback on the Move still looking trying to make magic on the scramble Nifty little scer on this one enough for the first down and he slides in safely I love the play call there too because second and short defense is thinking you might run it so you try to catch him off guard with the pass nothing there even if you throw an incompletion you're going to have a chance to run it the very next play but doesn't matter this guy's just so athletic himself he's able to go get the first he's got a fresh set of downs you know we joke that the tight end's always open David but play action almost makes it impossible to keep them cover and yeah because those guys such good blockers most of the time they're big and physical and they sell block for a second and then they run open and they find holes in zones or they get good matchups and man those tight ends nowadays are nightmares for defenses to try to stop linebackers moving trying to confuse the quarterback we reached a two-minute warning and this offense will be quite content just to drain the rest of the time away the receivers often will run their rout based on a side adjustment got and he wanted to get that one in but the defense able to force him out at the two well you haven't seen a lot of incompletions from this guy now in his last two games out completed over 70% of his throws last week he's doing it again in this game as a head coach you got to love the fact that your quarterback is dialed in into to the end zone he goes touchdown red wll they're now in really good shape to get back into the wind column as they extend the lead here late that score looks as if this one might have put it a little too far out of reach yeah this game's pretty much over that was just the icing on the cake but you know speaking of cake I'm kind of hungry can we can we get out of here can we finish this game so I can go get something to eat and takes this from inside the five not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 Southern Mississippi has it back and the golden eagle offense headed to the field this offense has pretty much been stuck in the mud the entire game it's been a frustrating performance Jesse Yeah listen you can't be hanging your head just yet this game's not over this coaching staff is still evaluating their player so if you're on the field right now you've got to finish this game You' got to try to prove something to them well the game is to be clear they're not coming back but I I hear what you're saying keep fighting keep showing your coaches it matters and maybe find something positive here late that you can build on for the weeks to come on Third and long he has to throw for it he's going up top here late in the game oh he gets down field for the big catch a huge gain on that one before he ran out of bounds and he has the first down dropping back it's raker fires to the big fella and not much doing there as that defense runs him out of bounds trying to get a rhythm in the passing game now on second down they're going to throw it [Applause] again and that's just a flat misfire not even close to his receiver and this defense has put a game together like it is hard to put all the fa defense together run defense pass defense they've been so good man dialed in racing down the left side and he'll take it all the way they couldn't bring him down touchdown Souther Miss nice job by the offense going down the field put points on the board but you're still down a couple possessions still need some good things to happen you need your kicker to go there get warmed up we need an onside we need to score some points we need a lot of things to go right to win this football game L up against it time running out down two possessions they'll try the onside kick they bring him down and he's going to lose a yard on that one Arkansas state has it ready to go to work on offense they're in command of this game now let's see if they tried to rub a little salt in the wound or happy with getting the W yeah going for it he's got it and he slipped through the crowd and he'll house it touchdown Arkansas State they can now exhale just a little bit with that lead and they are close to a victory here in the eighth week of the Season there's no mercy rule in college football man theyve got a huge lead here in the fourth quarter they are still chucking it and they are still scoring guess that's one way to ensure there's no return as the kickoff goes out of bounds you know the Field's about 53 yd wide got to kick it between those 53 yards or else the drive will start on the 40 they'll throw it on first down got him downfield slicing and dicing through this defense and they've got it down to the 23 CL will stop with this timeout from the offense they'll get a chance to regroup on the sideline off play action on first down coming after it and the quarterback will take a sack back at the 36 the offense gets a quick timeout at this point every second is precious looking to throw it's raker throws to the wide out working the middle touchdown Southern Mississippi and once he found daylight it was ktie Bar the Door baby he has been surgical Precision passes using the sca the instrument rather than the blunt one the defense has had absolutely no answer for just he's been down theirs all game long a step ahead understanding what he's seeing and just destroying this defense guys we'll see if this red wolves offense can get moving final minute this game's on Ice they can take a knee and run out the clock this offense has to feel great with how they're able to go out execute and perform unloads it down field wide open he makes the catch and he just kept running and he ran away from the crowd and he'll take it in touchdown Red Wolves salt into wound right in the fourth quarter you can run the football run this game out no sir I'm going to continue to pad my stats find my receiver out wide and give me another touchdown here he comes from inside his own five not a lot of space to be found good Hustle by the coverage team and they stop him at the 21 so guys will get another look at this offense he'll start this drive firing pocket starts to collapse [Applause] and that defense gets to him and down he goes at the nine the offense burns his third and final timeout of the half he's going to pass on second down catch in the middle it's heat and they'll finally bring him down after he rips off a huge play he'll spike the ball to try to save every precious second he can and here comes offense on second down looking downfield it's raker just too much juice on that one as he air mails his receiver out of bounds now facing a third and long from the gun wants to pass getting some heat and the quarterback is snowed under and the golden eagles moving quickly to the line offense facing fourth down on fourth down they'll try to throw it he's taking a deep shot and the pass is incomplete and the ball game is complete when we get to the offse and they start having coaching clinics they're going to roll this game tape back to show both offense dial it up and let it run I mean that's essentially what we saw in this game it didn't matter what either offensive coordinator was calling everything things seemed to work through throwing the football in the intermediate passing game the rpos The Run game David this was just clinical offensive football and offenses have evolved so much they can do so many different