Frank Gore Jr. sets bowl record with incredible performance
Frank Gore Jr. set a bowl record with 329 yards on Saturday night.
Southern Miss (7-6) beat Rice (5-8) 38-24 in the LendingTree Bowl on the back of Gore Jr.'s record-breaking performance. His father, NFL great Frank Gore, was on the sideline to cheer on his son.
Gore played 16 seasons in the NFL and played the most games among running back in NFL history (241), per Stat Muse. His son now joins him with a record of his own.
The first highlight reel play of the night came when Gore Jr. ran untouched on his way to a 64-yard touchdown that put Southern Miss up 14-0.
He showed off his arm on his next touchdown. After Rice went on a 24-3 scoring run to take a seven-point lead, Gore Jr. took the first-and-15 snap out of the Wildcat formation and lofted the ball to wide receiver Tiaquelin Mims to tie the game.
His final run sealed the game and set the bowl game record. The previous record was 317 yards by Appalachian State's Camerun Peoples in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 21, 2020.
Gore Jr. took the handoff up the middle before breaking a tackle at the 23-yard line and breaking away and then diving in for a 55-yard touchdown.
The run gave Southern Miss a 38-24 lead that would prove to be the final score. It was also Gore Jr.'s final run of the night, a cherry on top of a remarkable performance.
He finished the night with 21 carries for 329 yards (15.7 yards per carry) with two touchdowns. He was 2-of-3 passing for 19 yards and the touchdown to Mims.
He also showed grit with a strong stiff arm following the game.
"Auntie, chill," said Gore Jr. during his postgame interview when a family member came into the frame celebrating the performance. To that, we say, "No, Auntie. Don't chill."
It's not every day we get to witness history.
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