CONFERENCE USA Louisville outlasts Southern Miss in OT

Kurt Jones missed four field goals for the Golden Eagles, including two in overtime.
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) -- Beating Southern Mississippi never gets dull for Louisville.
Dave Ragone's passing set up Nate Smith's go-ahead 27-yard field goal in the second overtime as the Cardinals defeated Southern Miss for the third straight year, 20-17, Thursday night.
Kurt Jones missed four field goal attempts for the Golden Eagles (6-4, 4-2 Conference USA), including a 32-yarder in the second OT that would have forced another period.
Ragone was 19-of-37 for 200 yards with two touchdowns and a couple of clutch throws in the second OT.
He was sacked by Rod Davis for an 8-yard loss on the first play of the second OT. It was the Golden Eagles' eighth sack of the night. But the big lefty converted a first down with two passes to Damien Dorsey.
First lead
The drive stalled at the 10, but Nate Smith knocked through his kick to give Louisville its first lead of the game.
"I'm very thankful we got out of here with a win," Ragone said. "They came at me relentlessly. We are just fortunate to make one more play than they did."
Southern Miss got to the 15 on its possession, but Jones -- who missed a 46-yarder in the first overtime -- pushed it wide right.
Louisville couldn't take advantage of Jones' first OT miss, fumbling the ball away when Ragone banged into his fullback. Rayshun Jones recovered for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss had a chance to take the lead with 2:02 remaining in regulation, but Kerry Rhodes leaped high over the line to block Jones' 37-yard attempt.
The Golden Eagles turned three Louisville miscues -- two fumbles and a blocked punt -- into scores in the first half to take a 17-3 lead.
Cardinals rally
But poor punt coverage, turnovers and penalties by Southern Miss gave the Cardinals good field position in the third quarter -- and Ragone cashed in. He threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Tinch midway through the second quarter, cutting the lead to 17-10.
An interception and long runback by Josh Minkins -- plus a 15-yard personal foul on the Golden Eagles -- set Louisville up at the Southern Miss 37. On third-and-7, Ragone rolled left, eluded a rusher and heaved a 34-yard TD to J.R Russell to tie it late in the third.