So. Miss christens bowl season with victory

LAFAYETTE, La. -- Southern Mississippi's win in the New Orleans Bowl was a lot like the rest of the Golden Eagles' season -- a struggle.

Shawn Nelson caught a pair of second-half touchdowns, and Cody Hull added 161 yards rushing to lead Southern Mississippi over Arkansas State 31-19 Tuesday night in the first of the season's 28 bowl games.

Southern Miss endured plenty of turmoil long before arriving in Lafayette, where the New Orleans Bowl was moved because of Hurricane Katrina. The Golden Eagles had two games postponed in September because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, had to relocate temporarily to Memphis and played nine games in nine weeks to end the regular season.

Against Arkansas State, the Golden Eagles fumbled twice on their first two drives and didn't take control until well into the second half.

Arkansas State tied the game at 17 in the third quarter on Nick Noce's 2-yard pass to Manuel Burton, but Dustin Almond answered with a 29-yard toss to Nelson to make it 24-17.

The Indians scored on a safety when Southern Miss punter Luke Johnson knocked the ball out of the back of the end zone after a bad snap. The Golden Eagles made it 31-19 on Almond's 6-yard pass to Nelson with 8:22 remaining in the game.

Arkansas State (6-6) was in its first bowl since moving back up from Division I-AA. The Indians were in I-AA from 1982-91, and before that, their last postseason appearance was against Central Missouri State in the 1970 Pecan Bowl.

Southern Mississippi (7-5) made its fourth straight postseason appearance and eighth in nine years. The Golden Eagles beat North Texas 31-10 in last year's New Orleans Bowl.

Southern Miss was a double-digit favorite.

Antonio Warren rushed for only 20 yards for Arkansas State, finishing the season with 1,066. Warren left in the first half after reinjuring the ankle he sprained earlier in the year, but he returned in the third quarter.

Noce went 10-of-19 for 213 yards with an interception. He also ran for 55 yards.

Almond went 17-of-32 for 253 yards, and Nelson had six catches for 121 yards.