Southern Miss Dominates App State Behind Strong Defense
Southern Miss defeated App State 38-22 on Saturday, with the Eagles' defense forcing multiple turnovers to control the contest. The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead with a 7-7 first quarter, then pulled away with a 10-point second quarter to build momentum heading into halftime.
App State's offense struggled throughout, with quarterback AJ Swann throwing multiple interceptions that proved costly. Southern Miss capitalized on the turnovers, including a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ian Foster in the second quarter that swung momentum decisively. The Golden Eagles extended their advantage in the fourth quarter with 14 points to seal the victory.
For App State, running back Rashod Dubinion led the ground game with 95 yards, while Swann completed 49 passes despite the turnover issues. Southern Miss's receiving corps was led by Jeffery Pittman with 9 catches. The Golden Eagles' defense was the story, recording multiple takeaways that limited App State's offensive efficiency and dictated the game's pace. Southern Miss covered the 3-point spread, and the game went over the 56.5-point total.
AI-generated recap · Aug 16, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 App State | 7 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 22 |
 Southern Miss | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | App State | Southern Miss |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 31-52 | 22-31 |
| Pass Yards | 375 | 279 |
| Rush Yards | 95 | 110 |
| Total Yards | 470 | 389 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6-18 | 4-9 |
| Penalties | 7-65 | 9-74 |
| Possession | 36:29 | 23:24 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Rashod Dubinion run for 7 yds to the APP 32
Rashod Dubinion run for 5 yds to the APP 37 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass incomplete to William Fowles
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 42 yds to the USM 21 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann run for 6 yds to the USM 15
Rashod Dubinion run for 2 yds to the USM 13
Rashod Dubinion run for 6 yds to the USM 7 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for 3 yds to the USM 4
AJ Swann pass intercepted, touchback. Anthony Richard Jr. return for no gain
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Jeffery Pittman for 3 yds to the USM 17
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Bralon Brown for 4 yds to the USM 21
Southern Miss Penalty, Illegal Forward Pass (Braylon Braxton) to the USM 17
Jack Murley punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Jaden Barnes at the APP 38
Jack Murley punt for 45 yds, fair catch by Jaden Barnes at the APP 38
AJ Swann pass incomplete to Rashod Dubinion
Rashod Dubinion run for 1 yd to the APP 39
AJ Swann pass complete to Dalton Stroman for 14 yds to the USM 47 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass complete to Dalton Stroman for 27 yds to the USM 20 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 4 yds to the USM 16
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 7 yds to the USM 9 for a 1ST down
(07:07) No Huddle-Shotgun Swann,AJ pass incomplete short right to Stroman,Dalton thrown to USM00 broken up by Richard, Jr.,Anthony PENALTY USM Pass Interference (Richard, Jr.,Anthony) 7 yards from USM09 to USM02, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Rashod Dubinion run for 2 yds for a TD (Dominic De Freitas KICK)
Elijah Metcalf run for 4 yds to the USM 29
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete to Carl Chester
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Kyirin Heath for 13 yds to the USM 42 for a 1ST down App State Penalty, Defensive Offside (Jaelin Willis) declined for a 1ST down
Jeffery Pittman run for 8 yds to the 50 yard line
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Elijah Metcalf for 6 yds to the APP 44 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Robert Briggs for 14 yds to the APP 30 for a 1ST down App State Penalty, Roughing The Passer (DeNigel Cooper) to the APP 15 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Kyirin Heath for 7 yds to the APP 8
Braylon Braxton run for 3 yds to the APP 5 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete to Kyirin Heath
Jeffery Pittman run for 5 yds for a TD (Reed Harradine KICK)
Jaquari Lewis run for 2 yds to the APP 27
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaquari Lewis for 3 yds to the APP 30
AJ Swann pass incomplete to William Fowles
Ian Ratliff punt for 43 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the USM 27
Braylon Braxton run for 5 yds to the USM 32
Braylon Braxton run for a loss of 1 yard to the USM 31
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Tychaun Chapman for 12 yds to the USM 43 for a 1ST down
Robert Briggs run for 8 yds to the APP 49
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Tychaun Chapman for 33 yds to the APP 16 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete to Carl Chester
Elijah Metcalf run for 4 yds to the APP 12
Braylon Braxton sacked by Thomas Davis for a loss of 9 yards to the APP 21
Reed Harradine 39 yd FG GOOD
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 9 yds to the APP 34
Rashod Dubinion run for 1 yd to the APP 35 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for 8 yds to the APP 43
AJ Swann pass complete to Dalton Stroman for 17 yds to the USM 40 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 30 yds to the USM 10 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for 3 yds to the USM 7
AJ Swann pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 3 yds to the USM 4
AJ Swann pass intercepted Ian Foster return for 99 yds for a TD (Reed Harradine KICK)
Rashod Dubinion run for no gain to the APP 25
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 26 yds to the USM 49 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for 1 yd to the USM 48
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 8 yds to the USM 40
Rashod Dubinion run for 3 yds to the USM 37 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass incomplete to Jaden Barnes
AJ Swann pass incomplete to Izayah Cummings
AJ Swann pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 15 yds to the USM 22 for a 1ST down
AJ Swann pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 4 yds to the USM 18
Southern Miss Penalty, UNS: Unsportsmanlike Conduct (9 Yards) to the USM 9 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for a loss of 6 yards to the USM 15
AJ Swann pass complete to William Fowles for 8 yds to the USM 7
AJ Swann pass intercepted Mathis Haygood return for 18 yds to the USM 18
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Jeffery Pittman for 3 yds to the USM 21
PENALTY USM False Start (Maui,Aloali'i) 5 yards from USM21 to USM16. NO PLAY.
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete to Bralon Brown
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Elijah Metcalf for 48 yds to the APP 36 for a 1ST down
Southern Miss Penalty, UNR: Unnecessary Roughness (-15 Yards) to the APP 48
PENALTY USM False Start (Nunnery,Greg) 5 yards from APP48 to USM47. NO PLAY.
Robert Briggs run for 8 yds to the APP 45
Robert Briggs run for 5 yds to the APP 40
Southern Miss Penalty, Delay Of Game (Yards) declined
Jack Murley punt for 21 yds
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Dalton Stroman
Rashod Dubinion run for 11 yds to the APP 20 for a 1ST down
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Rashod Dubinion
Rashod Dubinion run for 8 yds to the APP 28
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Rashod Dubinion
Ian Ratliff punt for 49 yds , Elijah Metcalf returns for 4 yds to the USM 27
Matt Jones run for 4 yds to the USM 31
(00:23) No Huddle-Shotgun Braxton,Braylon pass incomplete deep right to Davis,Micah thrown to APP40 broken up by Floyd,Emory PENALTY APP Offside offsetting USM Pass Interference offsetting. NO PLAY.
(00:14) Kneel down by Southern Miss at USM29 for loss of 2 yards.
End of 2nd Quarter
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Micah Davis for 10 yds to the USM 35 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton run for 16 yds to the APP 49 for a 1ST down
Jeffery Pittman run for 16 yds to the APP 33 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Elijah Metcalf for 12 yds to the APP 21 for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete to Bralon Brown
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Bralon Brown for 7 yds to the APP 14
Braylon Braxton run for 6 yds to the APP 8 for a 1ST down
Jeffery Pittman run for no gain to the APP 8
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Robert Briggs for 8 yds for a TD (Reed Harradine KICK)
Noah Gillon sacked by J'Mond Tapp for a loss of 9 yards to the APP 16
Noah Gillon pass complete to Jaquari Lewis for 4 yds to the APP 20
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Jaden Barnes
Ian Ratliff punt for 49 yds
Matt Jones run for 1 yd to the USM 29
Braylon Braxton pass intercepted DJ Burks return for no gain to the USM 41
Rashod Dubinion run for 1 yd to the USM 40
Noah Gillon sacked by J'Mond Tapp for a loss of 6 yards to the USM 46
Noah Gillon pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 12 yds to the USM 34
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Jaden Barnes
Jeffery Pittman run for 1 yd to the USM 35
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Kadinn Morris for 2 yds to the USM 33
Braylon Braxton pass incomplete
Jack Murley punt for 37 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the APP 30
Rashod Dubinion run for 2 yds to the APP 32
Noah Gillon run for 1 yd to the APP 33
Noah Gillon run for 7 yds to the APP 40 for a 1ST down
Rashod Dubinion run for 17 yds to the USM 43 for a 1ST down
Noah Gillon pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 8 yds to the USM 35
Rashod Dubinion run for 1 yd to the USM 34
Rashod Dubinion run for no gain to the USM 34
Rashod Dubinion run for 11 yds to the USM 23 for a 1ST down
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Dalton Stroman
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Doopah Coleman
Noah Gillon run for 4 yds to the USM 19
(01:12) De Freitas,Dominic field goal attempt from 37 yards NO GOOD (H: Ratliff,Ian, LS: Poff,Jacob), clock 01:11 PENALTY USM Offside declined USM Roughing The Kicker (Moten,Josh) 9 yards from USM19 to USM10, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Jaquari Lewis run for 10 yds for a TD (Dominic De Freitas KICK)
Noah Gillon pass complete to Dalton Stroman for 7 yds to the USM 43
Noah Gillon pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 7 yds to the USM 36 for a 1ST down
Noah Gillon sacked by J'Mond Tapp for a loss of 11 yards to the USM 47
Noah Gillon pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 16 yds to the USM 31
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to William Fowles
Dominic De Freitas 49 yd FG MISSED
Braylon Braxton run for 7 yds to the USM 38
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Bralon Brown for 11 yds to the APP 49 for a 1ST down App State Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Kevin Abrams-Verwayne) to the APP 36 for a 1ST down
PENALTY USM False Start (Roman,Broderick) 5 yards from APP36 to APP41. NO PLAY.
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Jeffery Pittman for 6 yds to the APP 35
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Tychaun Chapman for 26 yds to the APP 9 for a 1ST down
Jeffery Pittman run for 9 yds for a TD (Reed Harradine KICK)
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Doopah Coleman
Noah Gillon run for no gain to the APP 25
Noah Gillon pass incomplete
Ian Ratliff punt for 36 yds, fair catch by Elijah Metcalf at the USM 39
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Micah Davis for a loss of 1 yard to the USM 38
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Tychaun Chapman for 41 yds to the APP 21 for a 1ST down App State Penalty, Defensive Offside (Jaelin Willis) declined for a 1ST down
Braylon Braxton pass complete to Micah Davis for 21 yds for a TD App State Penalty, Defensive Offside (Jaelin Willis) declined (Reed Harradine KICK)
Reed Harradine kickoff for 65 yds , Khamani Alexander return for 25 yds to the APP 25
Noah Gillon pass complete to Chris Lawson Jr. for 12 yds to the APP 37 for a 1ST down
Noah Gillon sacked by Eric Thomas Jr. for a loss of 7 yards to the APP 30
PENALTY APP False Start (Ramsey,Trent) 5 yards from APP30 to APP25. NO PLAY.
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Jaden Barnes
Noah Gillon pass complete to Chris Lawson Jr. for 18 yds to the APP 43
Noah Gillon pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 14 yds to the USM 43 for a 1ST down
(07:06) No Huddle-Shotgun Gillon,Noah pass incomplete short right to Lawson Jr.,Chris thrown to USM38 broken up by Foster,Ian PENALTY APP Illegal Touch-Pass declined APP Holding (Jackson,Shamarr) 10 yards from USM43 to APP47. NO PLAY.
Noah Gillon pass complete to Izayah Cummings for 6 yds to the USM 47
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Doopah Coleman
Noah Gillon pass complete to Doopah Coleman for 5 yds to the USM 42
Noah Gillon pass incomplete to Doopah Coleman
Landry Lyddy run for a loss of 1 yard to the USM 41
Matt Jones run for 8 yds to the USM 49
Landry Lyddy pass incomplete to Grant Page
Jack Murley punt for 21 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the APP 30
Rashod Dubinion run for 8 yds to the APP 38
Billy Wiles run for 12 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Billy Wiles pass complete to David Larkins for 6 yds to the USM 44
Billy Wiles run for no gain to the USM 44
Billy Wiles pass complete to William Fowles for 19 yds to the USM 25 for a 1ST down
PENALTY APP False Start (Burgess,Luke) 5 yards from USM25 to USM30. NO PLAY.
Billy Wiles sacked by Jameer Lewis for a loss of 9 yards to the USM 39
Southern Miss Penalty, Roughing The Passer (Avery Sledge) to the USM 17 for a 1ST down
Billy Wiles pass complete to Jaquari Lewis for 14 yds to the USM 3 for a 1ST down
Billy Wiles pass complete to Jaden Barnes for 3 yds for a TD (Jaquari Lewis pass to for Two-Point Conversion)
Jaylin Carter run for 7 yds to the APP 34
(00:16) Kneel down by Southern Miss at APP36 for loss of 2 yards.