James Madison pulled away in the second half to beat Southern Miss 54-23, ending the Golden Eagles’ two-game winning streak. Southern Miss briefly led late in the first half, but the Dukes scored on their first two third-quarter possessions and added 24 points in the fourth. John White, making his first career start at quarterback, threw for 266 yards and a touchdown.

By the Numbers
  • Final score: James Madison 54, Southern Miss 23.
  • Southern Miss is 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the Sun Belt; James Madison is 8-2 and 5-2.
  • White: 22-of-35 passing, 266 yards and 1 touchdown.
  • JC Evans accounted for 4 touchdowns; James Madison scored 24 points in the fourth quarter.
  • Attendance: 24,182.
Yes, But

Southern Miss showed promise before halftime, rallying from a 10-point deficit to take a 14-13 lead. But the Dukes answered with a field goal before the break, then overwhelmed the Golden Eagles after halftime.

What’s Next

Southern Miss travels to Ruston next Saturday, Nov. 14, to face Louisiana Tech. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Bottom Line

The Golden Eagles found offensive rhythm, but couldn’t sustain it against James Madison’s second-half surge. Their next challenge is turning that first-half resilience into a complete game.