Danny Hrapmann kicks five FGs as Southern Miss barely survives scare from UCF
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Danny Hrapmann kicked five field goals and Southern Miss (No. 22 BCS, No. 25 AP) hung onto its Conference USA title hopes and avoided an upset with a 30-29 win over Central Florida on Saturday night.
Central Florida's J.J. Whorton caught a 25-yard touchdown pass as time expired, but Southern Miss safety Jacorious Cotton got a hand on Blake Bortles' 2-point conversion pass to seal the win.
Hrapmann made all five field-goal attempts, including kicks of 42, 44 and 48 yards, and made both of his extra point attempts to propel Southern Miss to its first 9-1 start since 1962.
Austin Davis threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns.
Bortles came on in relief of UCF starter Jeff Godfrey and completed 24 of 34 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception.
Central Florida (4-6) has lost four of its last five games and six out of eight.
Southern Miss was turned away in the red zone four times and never established a running game, managing 127 yards on the ground.
The Knights held Southern Miss to three third-down conversions on 14 attempts. One of those conversions came with Southern Miss trailing 23-22 on 3rd-and-7 from the Southern Miss 23. Davis found Briggs down the sideline for a 34-yard pass, and five plays later, connected for a 4-yard, go-ahead touchdown.
Southern Miss won at least a share of the Conference USA East title, but still needs to win one of its last two against UAB and Memphis to earn a berth in the championship game.
College Football News
Domani Jackson, No. 5 recruit in 2022 class, commits to USC
Five-star cornerback Domani Jackson announced his commitment to USC on Saturday, choosing the Trojans over Arizona State, Clemson, Michigan and Ohio State.
Notre Dame placed on probation for one year
Tom VanHaaren breaks down the recruiting violations at Notre Dame.
New South Carolina Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer completes coaching staff
New South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer has made the final hires for his on-field staff.
New Tennessee Volunteers AD Danny White embracing rebuild, plans to hire new football coach quickly
Danny White is embracing the opportunity Tennessee is giving him to rebuild a Power 5 program, and not even the prospect of potential NCAA punishment deterred him from taking the athletic director job.
Three QBs from College Football Playoff among 131 players on official early entry NFL draft list
Ohio State junior quarterback Justin Fields is among 98 players granted special eligibility by the NFL into the league's draft, while national championship-winning QBs Mac Jones and Trevor Lawrence are among another 30.
Ohio State Buckeyes coach Ryan Day encouraged by returning players who put off NFL dreams
Despite several underclassmen leaving early, Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he is encouraged by the large number of players who decided to return for the 2021 season.
2020 American Athletic Conference Standings
TEAM | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Cincinnati | 6-0 | 9-1 |
Tulsa | 6-0 | 6-3 |
Memphis | 5-3 | 8-3 |
UCF | 5-3 | 6-4 |
SMU | 4-3 | 7-3 |
Houston | 3-3 | 3-5 |
Navy | 3-4 | 3-7 |
Tulane | 3-5 | 6-6 |
East Carolina | 3-5 | 3-6 |
Temple | 1-6 | 1-6 |
South Florida | 0-7 | 1-8 |
2020 Conference USA Standings
TEAM | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Marshall | 4-1 | 7-3 |
Florida Atlantic | 4-2 | 5-4 |
Western Kentucky | 4-3 | 5-7 |
Charlotte | 2-2 | 2-4 |
Middle Tennessee | 2-4 | 3-6 |
Florida International | 0-3 | 0-5 |
TEAM | CONF | OVR |
UAB | 3-1 | 6-3 |
UTSA | 5-2 | 7-5 |
Louisiana Tech | 4-2 | 5-5 |
North Texas | 3-4 | 4-6 |
Rice | 2-3 | 2-3 |
Southern Mississippi | 2-4 | 3-7 |
UTEP | 0-4 | 3-5 |