By Whitney Spencer
The Southern Mississippi football team will carry heavy hearts into today’s contest against the University of Louisville Cardinals.
Peter Wilkes, a walk-on punter the Southern Miss is in critical condition at a Memphis, Tenn. hospital after being shot at his home. Wilkes was not set to travel with the team to Louisville for today’s contest but instead traveled home for the school’s fall break.
For now the incident is being investigated as an accident or self-inflicted gunshot wound but school reports have been conflicting. On Friday afternoon Southern Miss reported that Wilkes suffered an “irrecoverable injury” on Thursday night. This was following a retraction of AP article that reported that Wilkes had died.
He listed in critical condition. The Southern Miss football team released at statement saying they are “shocked and devasted.” It is safe to assume that this will be on the hearts and minds of the entire Southern Mississippi communinity during today’s contest.
Entering into Saturday’s contest against Southern Mississippi, U of L holds a 1-3 record overall, with 0-1 record in the Big East. After last week’s second-half loss to the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, the Cardinals are looking to pick up the slack and get back to winning.
Southern Mississippi will enter Saturday’s game at 3-2, and 1-1 in the Conference USA, following a 30-17 loss to the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Thursday, Oct. 1. The Golden Eagles have been devastated by injuries this season. Last week they played without two key players—running back Damion Fletcher and receiver DeAndre Brown—who both sat out with injuries, but are expected to return this week against the Cards. Starting quarterback for Southern Miss., Austin Davis, completed 24-of-32 passes for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but the injury bug hit the Golden Eagles again when Davis suffered a season-ending foot injury during the game.
Quarterback Martevious Young will make his second start of his career, against the Cardinals, in place of Davis. Last season Young threw for 6 yards on 1-of-2, with one interception on the season, while he added five rushes for 42 yards.
The matchup on Saturday, Oct. 10 will be the 28th meeting between the two schools, with Southern Mississippi leading the series at 18-8-1. The last meeting, which was held in 2002, saw the Cards take the victory with a 20-17 final in overtime. Both teams were members of the Conference USA at the time.
