By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 30, 2003
HATTIESBURG To put it mildly, things did not go well for the University of Southern Mississippi against Nebraska during last Thursday night's nationally televised game.
The Golden Eagles (2-2, 2-0 Conference USA) got waxed 38-14 by the Cornhuskers (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), turned the ball over five times and had two of their first three offensive series end with turnovers leading to points for Nebraska.
As miserable as the loss was, USM did have a bright spot with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
Eagles freshman quarterback Damion Carter made his college debut completing 14-of-17 passes for 143 yards.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder completed his first six passes and led USM on a 17-play, 92-yard scoring drive on his first series. He completed 10-of-12 passes on the drive for 80 yards and ran for seven.
Carter's performance in the waning minutes of last Thursday's game earned him the starting spot against Cincinnati this Saturday.
Bower announced the freshman as his starter last Friday over sophomore Dustin Almond, who went 4-of-24 for 68 yards with two interceptions against Nebraska.
Carter will have a little help at practice from USM season-opening starter Micky D'Angelo this week.
D'Angelo, who suffered his fourth concussion in a year against Memphis on Sept. 13, will be able to practice. The junior quarterback is still unavailable for games for another two weeks.
USM's defense will need to regroup after constantly having their backs against the wall in the Nebraska game.
The Cornhuskers started with the ball on the Eagles' half of the field six times, and they only began on their own 20-yard line twice.
Nebraska also scored 17 points on its first three possessions with an average starting spot on USM's 26-yard line.
The Eagles were also burned for touchdown passes for 44 and 43 yards in the third quarter and a 47-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
USM will try to keep its conference record perfect against Cincinnati at 4 p.m. Saturday at Nippert Stadium.