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Houston, TX
Senior quarterback Austin Davis threw 17-for-33 for 279 yards and four touchdowns, guiding the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles to a shocking 49-28 win against the previously undefeated Houston Cougars in their Saturday's Conference USA championship game at Robertson Stadium.
With odds totally against them, Southern Mississippi pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in college football this season after destroying the highly-touted Cougars in the conference championship game showdown.
Davis, who played perhaps his final game in Golden Eagles uniform, came through with something special as he ripped Huston's defense apart with four TD passes.
Southern Mississippi, the East division champ, showed their intent right away as Davis hooked up with senior wideout Ryan Balentine for the first TD.
The senior quarterback struck again seven minutes into the second quarter as he connected with junior wideout Ryan Balentine for a 16-yard TD pass.
Southern Mississippi looked poised to blow the game wide open but Houston fought back by scoring two quick touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Case Keenum, who has been breaking several college football records this season, opened things up for his team with a 9-yard TD pass to Justin Johnson.
The Cougars then leveled the score at 14-14 two minutes later on a 14-yard rushing TD by running back Michael Hayes.
But the Golden Eagles scored again just before the end of the first half with Davis coming up with a 69-yard TD pass to sophomore wideout Dominique Sullivan.
Leading by seven points (21-14) after the break, Southern Mississippi broke loose in the third quarter.
Defensive back Furious Bradley scored on an 11-yard return of a blocked punt, while junior running back Desmond Johnson tallied on a 17-yard TD run.
Davis delivered another big play just before the end of the quarter as he found Tracy Lampley for a 61-yard TD pass.
With the win almost in the bag for the Golden Eagles, senior linebacker Ronnie Thornton added more misery to the Cougars after he picked off Keenum and scored on a 13-yard interception return.
Keenum threw 41-for-67 for 373 yards with 2 TDs and 2 interceptions, coming up short of his goal to lead Houston to a BCS bowl game.
Meanwhile, Southern Mississippi ended the season with their fifth Conference USA title and first under coach Larry Fedora.
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