USM defeats Louisiana Lafayette 35-31

Last updated: October 25, 2026

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Story from USM Athletics:

Jamarice Wilder ran for 154 yards, including a go-ahead 16-yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining, as Southern Miss erased a late deficit to beat Louisiana 35-31 Saturday night for homecoming at Renasant Stadium.

The Golden Eagles (2-5, 1-2) generated 286 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground, turning a back-and-forth Sun Belt Conference game with the Ragin’ Cajuns into their first league victory of the season.

Southern Miss trailed 28-21 after UL quarterback Lunch Winfield connected with Anthony Reagan Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. The Golden Eagles answered early in the fourth when Kolby Peavy intercepted Winfield at the Louisiana 30 and returned it for a tying touchdown with 10:05 left. It was Peavy’s first career interception and first interception return for a touchdown since Ian Foster did it against Jacksonville State last season.

UL regained the lead on Tony Sterner’s 22-yard field goal with 2:51 remaining, but Southern Miss needed only eight plays and 1 minute, 53 seconds to produce the decisive response.

Steven Robinson opened the final drive with a 6-yard run, then converted a third-and-1 with a 13-yard rush. After Landry Lyddy completed short passes to Kaden Saunders, Wilder broke free on fourth-and-1 from the Louisiana 44 for 28 yards. Two plays later, he ran through the middle for the winning score.

UL advanced to its own 47 on its final possession, but Winfield threw three straight incompletions after a short completion, and the Golden Eagles took over on downs before running out the clock.

Robinson led the Golden Eagles with three rushing touchdowns and 145 yards on 22 carries. Lyddy completed 21 of 38 passes for 164 yards without a touchdown or interception, while Mario Sanders caught six passes for 77 yards.

Louisiana (5-3, 2-2) finished with 417 yards. Winfield passed for 299 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted once. JJ Garner scored on a 42-yard run, and Reagan had a receiving touchdown. The Golden Eagles limited the Ragin’ Cajuns to a season-low 118 rushing yards, while they allowed a season-high to the Golden Eagles.

Southern Miss totaled 450 total yards as they defeated the Cajuns for the 24th time in 26 meetings in Hattiesburg.