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Football Ends Regular Season on Short End of 26-16 Result Against Cal

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Southern Miss - Cal Statistics

Football Ends Regular Season on Short End of 26-16 Result Against Cal

HATTIESBURG, Miss.— Southern Miss almost spoiled No. 4 ranked Cal’s BCS dreams Saturday night at M.M. Roberts Stadium, but came up short, 26-16.

 

The Golden Bears scored a defensive extra point on a blocked Darren McCaleb attempt, after the Golden Eagles had gotten within one, 17-16 following a one-yard touchdown run by Dustin Almond, with 5:56 to play.

 

Cal added a 12-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch with 4:51 remaining in the game, escaping with a 26-16.

 

The Bears drove downfield on their opening possession, but Tom Schneider missed a 35-yard field goal.

 

Southern Miss scored the game’s first touchdown on its second offensive series. Quarterback Dustin Almond found Anthony Perine for a 40-yard touchdown on a flea-flicker play, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-0 advantage with 4:54 to play in the first quarter. It was Perine’s first touchdown of the season.

 

Cal tied the game at 7-7 on its first second quarter possession, getting a 36-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Geoff McArthur.

 

The Bears scored another touchdown on their next series, as Rogers found Garrett Cross for an eight-yard score with 6:25, as Cal led 14-7 at halftime.

 

Southern Miss cut Cal’s lead to four, 14-10 on a 33-yard field goal from Darren McCaleb with 6:44 to play in the third quarter.

 

But the Bears answered McCaleb’s field goal with one of their own, as Schneider connected from 24 yards, giving them a 17-10 lead.

 

With time winding down in the fourth quarter, John Eubanks had a 41-yard punt return to the Cal 28-yard line. Facing third down and 10, Almond found Tavarres Williams for 19 yard first down to reach the Bear four-yard line. From there, Almond scored from one-yard out, bringing the Golden Eagles within one, 17-16, with the extra-point attempt to follow.

 

But McCaleb’s extra point try was blocked, and returned 80 yards by Hunter Wendell for a defensive PAT, as they led 19-16.

 

On Cal’s ensuing drive, J.J. Arrington rumbled 56 yards to reach the Golden Eagle 12-yard line, before Marshawn Lynch finished the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, to give Cal its final margin of victory.

 

The game was not without positives, as Dustin Almond completed 17-of-37 passes for 304 yards, setting a career high in passing yards. It was the most passing yards by a Southern Miss quarterback, since Jeff Kelly threw for 400 yards against Tulane (11/17/01).

 

Perine finished with four catches for 101 yards, as he recorded a career high in receiving yards. He also became the second Golden Eagle receiver to have a 100-yard receiving yard game this season, joining Antwon Courington, who had 112 against TCU (11/20/04).

 

McCaleb stayed perfect on the year in field goal attempts, and is tied for third in the Southern Miss single season lists with 15 in a season.

 

Linebacker Michael Boley had one tackle for loss tonight, giving him 54.5 for his career, moving into third on the school’s all-time tackles for loss.

 

Arrington finished with 261 rushing yards, McArthur had 145 receiving yards and Rogers finished with 223 passing yards for Cal.

 

Southern Miss (6-5) will close out its 2004 season in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, facing the University of North Texas (7-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the Louisiana Superdome (69,767). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN.

 

Tickets are $40 for premium reserved seats and $20 for students. The priority deadline is Tuesday, December 7, at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-TICK or 601 266-5418 or visiting SouthernMiss.com.