An unexpected hero rose to the occasion Tuesday as veteran Western Kentucky quarterback Maverick McIvor dusted off his cleats one last time and helped author a redemption story for himself and the Hilltoppers in the New Orleans Bowl.
The seventh-year quarterback hadn’t played in more than two months since an October shoulder injury opened the door for talented freshman Rodney Tisdale Jr. to overtake and never relinquish the starting role.
But with Tisdale knocked out of the contest just before halftime, McIvor helped lead a Western Kentucky rally against Southern Miss with three second-half touchdown drives, including two in the fourth quarter, in the 27-16 comeback victory.
McIvor completed 12 of his 19 passes for 199 yards and an interception and rushed eight times for 48 yards and a game-tying score to earn most valuable player honors in his final game of a college career that began in 2019 at Texas Tech.
Western Kentucky could manage just a pair of John Cannon red-zone field goals in the first half and fell behind 13-6 at the break.
Southern Miss claimed the lead late in the opening quarter on a 35-yard strike from senior quarterback Braylon Braxton to junior wide receiver Tychaun Chapman, and former Mandeville standout specialist Creighton Wilbanks added 25- and 29-yard field goals late in the half to keep the Eagles ahead.
McIvor pulled the Hilltoppers even, 13-13, midway through the third quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run to cap a 65-yard drive.
And though Wilbanks lifted Southern Miss back ahead with a 41-yard kick just a few minutes later, the fourth quarter belonged to Western Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers shut out the Eagles the rest of the way and claimed and extended a lead with another pair of long drives and touchdown runs.
Western Kentucky running back George Hart III scored the Hilltoppers go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of their 27-16 New Orleans Bowl win against Southern Miss. (Photo: Ethan Currie, @shotbycurrie)
Former Catholic-Baton Rouge star George Hart III scored from the goal line with 7:51 remaining to cap an 11-play, 65-yard grind and push Western Kentucky ahead, 20-16.
And the Hilltoppers went 83 yards in just seven plays on their next possession as freshman running back Marvis Parrish popped a 54-yard run for the exclamation mark with 3:38 left to play.
Parrish finished with a game-high 65 rushing yards on seven carries thanks to the late explosive play, and Hart added 28 yards on eight attempts.
Tisdale was 9-for-20 for 65 yards and an interception before his injury.
And senior wide receiver Matthew Henry led all receivers with seven catches for 126 yards.
Braxton finished 24-for-47 for 258 yards, a touchdown and an interception at the helm of the Southern Miss offense with another 21 yards on eight carries.
Junior running back Jeffery Pittman carried 10 times for 55 yards, and Chapman caught three passes for 50 yards.
Senior linebackers Jaylen Wester and Anthony Brackenridge wrapped up 12 and 11 tackles, respectively, and a sack each to lead a Western Kentucky defense that didn’t allow a touchdown for the final three quarters.
And junior defensive back Jaylen Lewis, who added six tackles, intercepted a late pass to help shut the door on the Eagles.
Former Destrehan star Jai Eugene Jr., a transfer from Tulane, finished with five tackles and two passes defended.
Sophomore safety Corey Myrick led the Southern Miss defense with nine tackles, including one for loss.
Former Ascension Catholic star J’Mond Tapp had three tackles, including 0.5 sacks, and deflected a pass.
