Southern Miss didn’t waste time getting its revenge against N.C. State. After losing to the Wolfpack last season 21-17, the Golden Eagles overwhelmed the Pack 37-17, this time at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss.
After leading by only a field goal going in to halftime, Southern Miss scored 17 straight points in the third quarter to take a 30-10 lead going into the final quarter — a lead State could not cut into.
Coach Chuck Amato benched junior quarterback Marcus Stone, who finished the game 10-for-24 for 100 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, for redshirt sophomore Daniel Evans with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Stone was replaced after his two interceptions, which both came in the third quarter. One of the interceptions occurred in the end zone in a first-and-goal situation, with the Pack down by only 13 points, a touchdown away from a one-possession game.
Evans finished the game 8-of-11 for 97 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
“The first time [Evans] was in, Southern Miss had quite a few of their starters go in the game. He did some awfully good things,” Amato said.
“We all saw that. That’s for sure. The second series, they were all backups. But you know what, he got his feet wet, which is good, and he did some good things, that’s for sure.”
Amato would not discuss specifics for any changes in the starting lineup next weekend against Boston College. He said the team will notify players before the changes are made on Monday.
“We talk personnel first thing Monday morning. [If] any changes in any personnel are made, we’ll make them then, and we’ll see our players before.”
Next weekend, the Pack might be without junior wide receiver Darrell Blackman, who sprained his right knee during the opening kickoff. He had an MRI Sunday and the team will know the results Monday.
Amato has yet to hear from any action that might be taken toward senior defensive tackle Demarcus “Tank” Tyler.
Tyler was ejected from the game after a personal-foul penalty, which on Sunday Amato said “the word ‘spitting’ came into it.”
He said he had not talked to Tyler yet, but offered a possible explanation as to what occurred before Tyler was ejected.
“When you’re talking to officials, sometimes [spit] does come out when just talking” Amato said. “That’s what I’ve been told.”
Next weekend the Pack is at home against Boston College, who is 3-0 on the season with two straight double-overtime victories.