Posted: Sunday, December 20, 2009 9:08 pm

Dwight Dasher threw for two touchdowns and ran for two to win MVP of the New Orleans Bowl. Jay Bailey photo

Dominating the second half of the New Orleans Bowl, Middle Tennessee's football team made the 2009 season the greatest ever since joining FBS competition and arguably the best in school history.

The Raiders won their first FBS bowl game, 42-32, over Southern Mississippi Sunday night before a national television audience on ESPN in a game that proved to be an entertaining, offensive show just as expected.

In addition to their historic bowl win, the Blue Raiders of Coach Rick Stockstill also notched a record FBS 10th win, finishing the season with seven straight wins and a 10-3 record.

After trailing 17-13 at halftime, the Raiders sandwiched a Southern Miss field goal with two TDS, one coming on a 35-yard run by star quarterback Dwight Dasher who finished the night with two TDS passing and two running while becoming the ninth player ever to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a season.

After a Golden Eagle field goal made the score 21-20, the Raiders were driving when Dasher re-injured his left ankle making a cut on the Superdome's artificial turf and had to leave the game.

Will Burnett came in and hit two straight 20-plus yard passes, the second covering 23 yards to Chris McGlover on a comeback screen pass for a touchdown.

The Golden Eagles, making their fourth New Orleans Bowl appearance and seeking their second straight win after edging Troy last December, came back for a TD to move within two at 28-26.

But, the Raiders then staged a drive to nail the win. D.D. Kyles ripped off a couple of nice gains to pick up first downs before the Raiders stalled with about five minutes to play.

On fourth and one Middle went for it with Dasher firing a quick out to Desmond Ghee who broke away for an 18-yard gain.

Dasher broke away once again, zipping down to the one-yard line where Benjamin Cunningham plowed in with 3:14 play.

Shortly after that standout linebacker Danny Carmichael, making his final appearance in Raider blue, snatched a Southern Miss pass at the Eagle 18 and carried it down to the five.

Three players later Dasher plunged into the end zone.

The Golden Eagle scored on a long pass with 27 seconds to play, but an onsides kick try failed.

Southern Mississippi kicked a short field goal on the last play of the first half to take a 17-14 lead at intermission in the New Orleans Bowl. Middle Tennessee fell behind 14-0 but then came back to tie the game with Alex Suber's diving interception setting up the tying score on a scrambling Dwight Dasher pass.

Dasher hit Shane Blissard on a 14-yard pass for the six after finding Garrett Andrews from 11 out for the first Raider TD.

Suber's pick of Martevious Young was only the second interception of the year for the Golden Eagle quarterback.

Prior to the second Raider TD, Allen Gendreau's field goal attempt was blocked.

Southern Miss scored on its first two possessions, but the Raider defense then settled down and held the Golden Eagles in check until the late first half drive for the field goal.