Jason Munz

Southern Miss Sports Writer

Southern Miss put on a football clinic in its home opener Saturday.

In Jay Hopson’s M.M. Roberts Stadium debut as the Golden Eagles’ head coach, he entertained the gathered Black and Gold faithful with a dazzling offensive display and a suffocating defense en route to a dominant 56-0 victory over Savannah State. It’s Southern Miss’ first shutout since holding Alcorn State without a point in the 2009 season opener.

Hopson’s club improves to 2-0, while the Tigers drop to 0-2.

“It’s always good to get a win,” Hopson said. “I thought we did a lot of good things. But we know we’ve got a big test next week (Troy, 6 p.m.).”

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Southern Miss senior quarterback Nick Mullens threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns — to three different receivers — all in the first half. Running backs Ito Smith (128) and George Payne (116) each eclipsed the century mark Saturday for the second consecutive game.

The offense, which amassed a whopping 615 yards, was far from the star of the show. The Golden Eagle defense held Savannah State to a paltry 41 yards, establishing a new Conference USA record. Southern Miss also registered 11 tackles for loss and five sacks along the way.

Special teams also had a hand in the party as Allenzae Staggers became the first Golden Eagle since Tracy Lampley in 2011 to return a punt for a touchdown.

Despite an early stumble (Mullens’ first pass attempt of the game was intercepted by Marquis Smith), Southern Miss’ defense and special teams righted the ship. The Golden Eagles held the Tigers to minus-6 yards on the visitors’ drive following the pick, forcing a field goal attempt. That try for 3 was blocked by Dylan Bradley.

“The punt return was really a big play,” Hopson said. “But, overall, I thought we did a better job on kickoff coverage. Our punt team was solid. Certainly pleased for the most part with (special teams).”

On the ensuing offensive possession, Southern Miss put together a 12-play, 78-yard drive that resulted in a 1-yard scoring plunge by Mullens that gave the home team a 7-0 lead.

Four minutes later, Mullens hooked up with Korey Robertson on a 22-yard scoring strike to put the Golden Eagles up 14-0.

But the backbreaker for Savannah State came on the next offensive play from scrimmage for Southern Miss. On an untimed play at the end of the first quarter, Smith took a handoff and raced 86 yards to the end zone. It is the longest run of his career, the third-longest touchdown run in school history and the longest scoring jaunt in M.M. Roberts Stadium history, breaking the previous record held by former quarterback Reggie Collier.

“I think I got tangled up with a linebacker at first,” Smith said of his record-setting run. “But once I broke the tackle, I went around the end and (receiver Isaiah Jones) was blocking his butt off. He blocked two guys for me, so that was big.”

Mullens said the play call was a routine inside run.

“A regular run call,” he said. “And he found a way to spin out of that first tackle, then went the distance. Isaiah had a great block. But Ito is one of the most electric players out there. Anytime he touches the ball, he has a chance to take it the distance.”

Marquise Ricard led Southern Miss with six catches, while Jones had a team-high 82 yards receiving. Both players had touchdown catches, while D.J. Thompson and Robertson also had scoring grabs.