USM hopes for easy ride to first victory

Published 4:02 am Saturday, September 12, 2015

(AP) — A week after showing progress in a 34-16 loss to Mississippi State in the season opener, the Southern Miss football team will look take care of Austin Peay at 2:30 p.m. today in Hattiesburg.

Today’s contest offers USM the opportunity to rest players who are banged up and build a significant lead in order to get backups like quarterback Tyler Matthews in the game.

USM (0-1) is not yet at the point where it can take any game for granted, but Austin Peay has ranked as one of the worst FCS programs in the nation in recent seasons.

Following last week’s 28-7 home loss to Mercer, Austin Peay is a combined 8-50 over the last six seasons and has only one win in its last 25 games.

Austin Peay head coach Kirby Cannon is a product of the midwest much like USM coach Todd Monken, coaching at places like Northern Michigan and Western Illinois before landing the job at Austin Peay.

“I know he is a guy that has been a defensive coach and has grinded his way up the profession to be the head coach,” Monken said. “He has done a great job, which his job isn’t that much different than ours has been here in that he’s trying to build it, recruit better and coach better. You can see their improvement from last year. They’ve got more talent; they have played awfully hard; and we are excited to have them come into The Rock this week.”

Monken will hope his team can survive another week without more injuries piling up.

Senior defensive tackle Wil Freeman, receiver Mike Thomas, tight end Jay’Shawn Washington and linebacker Sherrod Ruff were among the key players who hobbled off the field last week against Mississippi State.