With an opportunity at hand to secure the program’s first-ever Sun Belt championship appearance, the Southern Miss football team couldn’t find enough production on Saturday afternoon, falling at home to Troy 28-18.

Southern Miss (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) had a chance down three points with just over three minutes to play to get a defensive stop and the ball back. The Golden Eagles stacked the box to stop what coaches presumed would be a running play by Troy (8-4, 6-2), but that’s when quarterback Goose Crowder found RaRa Thomas on a quick post route, and 75 yards later and into the end zone, dreams of a Sun Belt West title evaporated for USM.

A scoreless first quarter segued into Troy beginning the second quarter with a 13-play drive that ended in a three-yard rushing touchdown by Tae Meadows,

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