Dein erstes Forum » eam on the schedule that is currently ranked. An undef

NEW ORLEANS -- Southern Miss all-time leading quarterback Nick Mullens and prolific Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire expected the final season of their college careers to be considerably better.That doesnt mean they havent been gratified by what they and their teams have overcome, defying late-season odds with clutch performances to earn invitations to Saturday nights New Orleans Bowl.Its really a humbling experience. Nothing in a college career is ever going to go perfect. Im glad the way we persevered, Mullens said. The fact we earned our spot here is definitely something were proud of.To gain bowl eligibility, the Golden Eagles (6-6) had to win their final game against favored Louisiana Tech. Mullens, whod missed two games because of a concussion, returned for the regular season finale and completed 88 percent of his passes (29 of 33) for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-24 triumph . The Ragin Cajuns (6-6) had to win their last two games -- not to mention four of their last six.Im glad we could pull that off, McGuire said. Life is unfair, things happen. Everybodys got to go through adversity, overcome obstacles.Some fans might be inclined to scoff at the idea of a bowl game from which the loser is guaranteed a losing record. The participants dont see it that way because there are so many variables in football -- from untimely injuries to bad bounces -- which can undermine the seasons of otherwise good football teams. In the case of Southern Miss, Mullens struggled with a mid-season thumb injury even before his concussion.The bone is showing and he says, `Tape it and I think I can play, Golden Eagles coach Jay Hopson recalled. It took him about two or three weeks (to get healthy). Then he got knocked out.The Cajuns, meanwhile, lost one early season game at Tulane in four overtimes and another at New Mexico State in double OT.I see a great matchup, UL Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth said. Its two teams that have overcome a lot this year.Here are some other things to watch in the 16th New Orleans Bowl:REGIONAL RIVALS: While Southern Miss plays in Conference USA and ULL in the Sun Belt Conference, these programs have history because of their proximity to one another. Theyve played 51 times, with the Golden Eagles dominating the series, 39-11-1, including victories in the past eight meetings. Each campus is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of New Orleans, so attendance is expected to be solid. Its two teams close together regionally. Our fan bases are familiar with one another, Hudspeth said. Thats going to bring some intensity to the game.STRENGTH ON STRENGTH: McGuire, has rushed for 1,028 yards and seven TDs this season, and has 4,213 yards rushing for his career, which ranks second all-time at ULL. Southern Miss ranks 18th nationally in total defense (331 yards allowed per game). Youve got one team that can run the ball, a running back that runs the ball pretty well and youve got a defense that stops the run well. So thats the game we play, Hopson said. It certainly will be a battle out there Saturday night and we understand that.TRANSFER QB: Cajuns QB Anthony Jennings is a former LSU starter who transferred after losing his job to Brandon Harris, who has since lost his job to Danny Etling. In his first and last season at Louisiana-Lafayette, Jennings has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,083 yards and 11 TDs. I had some bumpy roads early in the season, but I think Im coming along well, said Jennings, normally a mobile quarterback who was slowed by an ankle injury this season. Im back to 100 percent right now and running the football better than ever.TIMELY STOPS: Southern Miss third-down defense ranks second nationally after allowing conversions on just 34 of 142 attempts (24 percent). Likewise, the Golden Eagles are tied for third national in first downs allowed (172). Southern Miss defensive lineman Dylan Bradley says third-down defense is as much about mindset as anything, and calls his unit a nasty bunch.DOMECOMING: This marks each teams fifth New Orleans Bowl, in which Southern Miss is 3-1 and UL Lafayette was 4-0 until vacating 2011 and 2013 victories because of self-reported recruiting violations.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Jarrett Stidham Youth Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. Sony Michel Womens Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Drew-Bledsoe-Inverted-Jersey/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Stephon Gilmore Jersey . Woodson said during a radio interview Thursday that the Knicks Carmelo Anthony doesnt get the same calls as other superstars. Julian Edelman Youth Jersey . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. SALT LAKE CITY -- Mitch Wishnowsky had pushed No. 4 Washington in a back-and-forth showdown with No. 17 Utah. The Utah punter had the Huskies on their heels and on the wrong side of the field so much that Washington coach Chris Petersen laughed when he pinned his team on the 7 in the third quarter.But then Wishnowsky outkicked his coverage, somewhat, late in the fourth quarter and gave Washington an opening.Dante Pettis returned the punt 58 yards for a touchdown with 3:25 left and Washington held off Utah 31-24 on Saturday to remain undefeated.Honestly, I thought I was going to get tackled to begin with, Pettis said. I somehow slipped out of that. I was a little afraid because I lost about five yards to begin with. Once I got around that, my blockers did a good job setting up open space and that was it.That guy was a good punter. The best Ive seen. The ball would just hang in the air forever and it was hard to judge where the ball was really going, but his leg paid off for us in the end.After Utah tied it at 24 with 9:07 left, Washington (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12) pinned the Utes on their own 1 on quarterback Jake Brownings pooch punt. The Utes (7-2, 4-2) went three-and-out and punted to Pettis, who ran parallel toward the far sideline, broke a tackle and outran everyone else. It was Pettis second punt return touchdown of the year and the first Utah has allowed since 2009.Browning threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns, and Myles Gaskin ran for 151 and a touchdown.It was awesome for Dante to get that return at the end because thats a heck of a punter, Petersen said. Hes a weapon. We could get nothing. He just kept driving us back, driving us back. . We finally got our chance and Dante made a couple guys miss and hats off to him.This is real football, Pac-12 football. ... This is how it goes, sometimes you have to grind out games in the fourth quarter.Fans may have gotten a preview of the Pac-12 championship game as the Huskies continue to hold the top spot in the North Division. The Utes fell a game behind Colorado, but remain in the hunt.Utah quarterback Troy Williams threw for 163 yards and two touchdowns while Joe Williams continued his remarkable post-retirement career with 172 rushing yards and a touchdown.The two teams went back and forth in the second half after Washington led 14-10 at haalftime.dddddddddddd The Utes were on the ropes, trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, when safety Chase Hansen read Brownings eyes, jumped a deep route and returned the interception 30 yards to set up Joe Williams 2-yard touchdown run. It was Brownings first interception since Sept. 24. Andy Phillips kicked a field goal as time expired in the second quarter.Did they win on that, I dont know, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said about the punt return. Thats a great play by them, but if we punt it and they milk the clock down and kick a field goal, maybe that gave us our best chance to win -- just get the ball back immediately. ... You never know how things are going to play out.That punt wasnt bad. We missed a tackle or two. ... We had really controlled the field position with Mitch and the punting game up until that last punt.THE TAKEAWAYWASHINGTON: The Huskies have a clear path to the Pac-12 championship game and a possible College Football Playoff berth. Utah was the last team on the schedule that is currently ranked. An undefeated Pac-12 champion will likely be included in the playoff.UTAH: The Utes look to the season-finale against Colorado. The goal was to win the Pac-12 South and play in the title game, but the loss gives Colorado (6-2, 4-1) the edge in the division. The Buffaloes host Utah in the last game of the season.Thats the plan, win out and play them again, Troy Williams said.POLL IMPLICATIONSWASHINGTON: The Huskies are likely to remain No. 4 unless No. 3 Clemson loses to No. 12 Florida State on Saturday night.UTAH: The Utes may drop a few spots, but shouldnt be penalized too harshly after pushing the No. 4 team in the country to the brink.ALL LOVETroy Williams signed with Washington as a top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in 2013, but ended up transferring to Santa Monica College. He said there were no hard feelings, but hed been waiting for this game.It was great and nothing personal, just business, Williams said. It wasnt fit for me to be there at the end of the day and theyre my brothers for life, just like these guys sitting here.UP NEXTWASHINGTON: The Huskies travels to face California on Nov. 5.UTAH: The Utes are at Arizona State on Nov. 10. ' ' '