HATTIESBURG — After facing one of Conference USA’s toughest offensive teams last week, the task does not get any easier for the Southern Miss defense this Saturday against Louisiana Tech.

But like last weekend, they should be up for the challenge.

In the contest, the Golden Eagles limited the Blazers — the top rushing team in the league — to just 97 yards, which was the fewest that they put together in a game this season. The Blazers tallied just 304 total yards in the contest.

The feat of holding the Blazers under 100 yards marked the fourth time this season the Golden Eagles have done that and the 13th time over the 35-game Jay Hopson era.

In 2018, the Golden Eagles surrender only 109.9 yards per game on the ground which ranks No. 18 among schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The school also holds a No. 12 ranking in passing yards allowed per game (175.0).

Those are the type of defensive numbers Golden Eagle fans have gotten used to under Hopson and defense coordinator Tim Billings.

Under Hopson, the Golden Eagles enjoyed finishes in the Top 20 in each of his first two seasons – No. 15 in 2016 and No. 20 in 2017. Southern Miss currently finds itself on pace to end in the Top 10 this fall as the squad allows 284.9 yards per tilt, which ranks No. 9 in the FBS.

Should Southern Miss finish the year by giving up under 300-yards per game, it would mark the first time that they will do this since 2000, as they allowing 268.2 yards that year to rank No. 2 in the country in total defense. Should the Golden Eagles stay in the Top 20 nationally in total defense, it also would mark the first time they finished in the Top 20 in three-straight seasons since 1999-2001.

The Golden Eagles play Louisiana Tech in their final regular season home game of the year as it will be Senior Day, Saturday at 2:30 p.m., from M.M. Roberts Stadium.

The Golden Eagles and Bulldogs can be viewed on Stadium, as well as be heard on one of the affiliates of the Southern Miss IMG Sports Network.