Furious Comeback Falls Short Against Southern Miss, 38-35

Thursday, October 9

Statesboro, GA

8:00 PM

Georgia Southern University

2-4 , 0-2

Southern Miss

4-2 , 2-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Southern Miss.	7	21	7	3	38
Ga. Southern	7	0	14	14	35

Photo by: AJ Henderson - Georgia Southern Athletics

10/10/2025 12:02:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Georgia Southern nearly erases 21-point deficit in second half; Camden Brown has record night for the Eagles

STATESBORO - Visiting Southern Miss built a 21-point halftime lead, then held on after a furious second-half comeback by Georgia Southern to pick up a 38-35 Sun Belt Conference football victory on Thursday evening from Paulson Stadium.

Southern Miss improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt with the victory in the first meeting between the two teams, while Georgia Southern falls to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the league. The Eagles return to action on Saturday, October 18, for a 7 p.m. Homecoming and White Out contest against Georgia State at Paulson.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the game midway through the first quarter on a David Mbadinga two-yard touchdown run, set up by a 25-yard connection from JC French IV to Camden Brown.

Southern Miss answered on the very next drive as Braylon Braxton hooked up with Tychaun Chapman on a 50-yard touchdown pass, sparking a 28-0 run as the Golden Eagles took a 28-7 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Eagles embarked on a 12-play, 87-yard touchdown drive with their first possession. French capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run, his second rushing touchdown of the season.

Southern Miss answered with a touchdown, but French hooked up with Marcus Sanders Jr. for a 39-yard touchdown pass on the next drive, his ninth straight game with a TD pass for the Eagles that made the score 35-21 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.

The Golden Eagles got a 42-yard field goal with 10:24 left in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles cut the lead to 10, 38-28, on French's 26-yard touchdown pass to Camden Brown, Brown's sixth touchdown reception of the year. After a three-and-out by Southern Miss, the Eagles cut the lead to three on a two-yard touchdown run by French with 2:17 remaining.

The Eagles' ensuing onside kick attempt was recovered by Southern Miss and the Golden Eagles were able to run for a first down to clinch the win.

Brown led the Eagles offensively by catching 12 passes for 158 yards and a score. His 12 passes tied a school record, set twice previously (Khaleb Hood, Derwin Burgess), while his third straight game with 100+ yards receiving was only the second Georgia Southern player had accomplish that feat, joining Raja Andrews, who caught 100+ yards in three straight games during the 2008 season.

OJ Arnold rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries, while Marcus Sanders Jr. added 70 yards on four catches, including his touchdown. French finished the night 24-for-43 passing for 313 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Southern Miss was led offensively by Braxton's 19-of-28 passing for 237 yards and two scores, while Jeffery Pittman ran for a career-high 140 yards rushing and two scores on 31 carries.