Jags Tired But Get Work Done In Tuesday’s Practice
Head coach Joey Jones said that his team was tired and beat up after Tuesday’s practice. South Alabama is coming off of it first FBS and SBC win against Florida Atlantic where they had to go to double-overtime and block three field goal attempts in the game to win.
However coach Jones said that the team got their work done in practice as they prepare to go on the road to Monroe to face ULM, the lone undefeated team in Conference play.
“We were a little tired today, a little beat up,” Jones said. “This is that point in the season where they’re waking up in the morning a good bit and they’re tired. They had a real physical game the other day (in the 37-34 double overtime win over Florida Atlantic).”
“I didn’t think emotionally we brought much today,” Jones continued. “We were out here and we kind of did what we were supposed to do, but one thing we’ve got to learn is we’ve got to fight through that. Football is a tough game and it teaches you a lot of lessons and you’ve got to fight through that and come to work. They came to work, but they’re just kind of tired and beat down right now.”
ULM is coming off of a 43-42 overtime win against Western Kentucky to improve to 5-2 (3-0 SBC) on the season. They opened the season with a 34-31 overtime win over then eighth-ranked Arkansas and also have a 53 point win over Tulane in New Orleans. Their two losses have come to Auburn in overtime and to Baylor by five points.
ULM comes into the game ranked first in the Sun Belt in scoring and total offense by averaging 39.4 points per game and 471.3 yards per game.
“They’re great offensively, they present so many problems,” coach Jones observed. “What they do is so different. They run a lot of empty, five wide receiver stuff and the quarterback is just uncanny in his ability to make plays. He just has an unbelievable knack for making plays, and he’s a big reason for why they are so successful offensively.”
Kolton Browning, ULM’s quarterback, was named the SBC Offensive player of the week. He leads the conference with an average of 273.4 yards per game. He has completed 61.1% of his passes by going 168-of-275 for 1,914 yards and 18 touchdowns.
ULM’s Brent Leonard and Taverese Maye are two of the top receivers in the conference. Leonard has 42 catches for 423 yards and three touchdowns while Maye has 33 catches for 337 yards and two touchdowns. Je’Ronn Hamm and Colby Harper have 29 receptions each while Hamm leads the team with 493 yards receiving.
Jyruss Edwards has 413 yards rushing with six touchdowns but also has 12 catches for 157 yards receiving.
The Jags really stepped up in the fourth quarter against FAU. They had back-to-back drives of 80 and 85 yards to tie the game. The controlled the ball for a total of 10:30 in the fourth quarter.
“When we were down 14 [points], I didn’t see quit in anybody on the sideline,” explained Jones in his Monday press conference. “Once we got the ball and drove down and scored to get within seven, I knew we had a shot. The defense came out and forced a three-and-out, and then we got the ball back and drove 85 yards for a touchdown. What makes me feel good is that these guys have been working their tails off all this time, and to have some rewards on the field for their hard work meant a lot to me for them, and they deserved it.”
The Jags and the Warhawks will kick off at Malone Stadium at 6pm in Monroe, Louisiana.