2005 New Orleans Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2005 New Orleans Bowl featured the (now the Red Wolves) and the . Due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina
, the game was played at Cajun Field
in Lafayette, Louisiana
instead of at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans
.
For Arkansas State, the game represented the Indians' first bowl game since the . The team had won the Sun Belt Conference
with a 6-5 record. Meanwhile, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (representing Conference USA
) also came in with a 6-5 record.
Cody Hull scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter, to give Southern Miss a 17-10 lead. Quarterback Nick Noce found wide receiver Manuel Burton in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game at 17-17. USM quarterback Dustin Almond connected with wide receiver Shawn Nelson
for a 29-yard touchdown pass and a 24-17 lead. Arkansas State scored on a safety to get within 24-19. Dustin Almond threw a second touchdown pass to Shawn Nelson to make the final margin 31-19.
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
, the game was played at Cajun Field
Cajun Field
Cajun Field is a stadium located in the city of Lafayette, Louisiana. Nicknamed The Swamp, it is the home field of the Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns...
in Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...
instead of at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
For Arkansas State, the game represented the Indians' first bowl game since the . The team had won the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
with a 6-5 record. Meanwhile, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (representing Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
) also came in with a 6-5 record.
Game summary
Darren McCaleb got Southern Miss on the board first with a 31-yard field goal to give USM an early 3-0 lead. Arkansas State's Eric Neihouse answered with a 44-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. With 2:05 left in the first quarter, running back Cole Mason scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to give Southern Miss a 10-3 lead. Nick Noce answered with a 4-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 10 at halftime.Cody Hull scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter, to give Southern Miss a 17-10 lead. Quarterback Nick Noce found wide receiver Manuel Burton in the end zone for a touchdown to tie the game at 17-17. USM quarterback Dustin Almond connected with wide receiver Shawn Nelson
Shawn Nelson (American football)
Shawn Nelson is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. Nelson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Mississippi....
for a 29-yard touchdown pass and a 24-17 lead. Arkansas State scored on a safety to get within 24-19. Dustin Almond threw a second touchdown pass to Shawn Nelson to make the final margin 31-19.