Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Auburn Tigers

Byrum Brown shines in home opener, leading Auburn to a 43-8 victory over Southern Miss

Brown accounted for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Tigers to a 43-8 victory over Southern Miss on Saturday night.

A week after throwing three interceptions, Brown completed 17 of 28 passes for 223 yards and two scores. He also ran 13 times for 88 yards and chipped in a 5-yard TD reception. Equally important, he played turnover-free football.

“He was efficient,” coach Alex Golesh said. “I think he took what they gave up, what they gave us. I thought he managed it well. ... I thought he was confident pulling the ball down and taking off when he had to. He moved the chains with his feet. I don't know how many first downs he got, but I thought he was efficient.”

Brown was efficient enough that he got to watch the fourth quarter from the sideline as the game was well in hand.

The Tigers (2-0), coming off a last-second victory against Baylor in Atlanta, totaled 613 yards in their home opener. They threw for 270 yards and ran for 343 more. They outscored Southern Miss 16-0 in the second half.

It was exactly the confidence booster Golesh was looking for heading into next week's Southeastern Conference opener against Florida.

Nonetheless, Golesh lamented his team's 10 penalties and a third-quarter fumble near the goal line.

“I was so disappointed in the sloppiness,” he said. “I don’t care what the score it. A win is a win. But if the standard is that and that’s what it looks like, then we’re going to have a really, really long season. We have to have a sense of urgency on cleaning this up, and that’s on me beyond anything else.”

Golesh had fewer concerns about the quarterback he brought with him from South Florida. Brown directed five scoring drives over six possessions early and played with the kind of poise Auburn will need in league play.

Omar Mabson II added 108 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Tigers. Chas Nimrod finished with seven receptions for 52 yards.

Southern Miss (1-1) dug itself an early hole when Andre Jordan Jr. returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown on the second snap of the game. Jordan added another interception later in the first quarter.

“Really high-end way to start it defensively," Golesh said. “A lot of credit to the pressure and then Dre being there.”

Ethan Hampton completed 18 of 27 passes for 146 yards, with a TD and two INTs for Southern Miss. He gave way to Landry Lyddy in the fourth quarter.

The takeaway Southern Miss: The Eagles finished with 221 yards, including 50 rushing. They turned the ball over twice, committed 11 penalties, allowed four sacks and failed to convert on each of their two fourth-down attempts.

Auburn: The Tigers started the game with a defensive flourish — a pick-6 — and ended by shutting out Southern Miss over the final two quarters, forcing two punts, a safety and a turnover on downs.

Up next Southern Miss hosts Connecticut next Saturday.

Auburn hosts Florida next Saturday in the SEC opener for both schools.

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