Jags Vs Red Wolves: By The Numbers
Tomorrow evening South Alabama will host two-time defending Sun Belt Conference Champions Arkansas State. The Red Wolves have a history in Mobile since they have played in the past two GoDaddy.com Bowl games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Head coach Joey Jones got some good news on Thursday as Romelle Jones, who was expected to miss this weekends game, may be able to play. Jones suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee against Texas State on a chop-block.
Head Coach Joey Jones said it was going to be a game-time decision. There’s nothing structurally wrong, it will be a matter of Romelle having to fight through the pain.
Statistics
Both teams enter the game with overall records of 3-4, the Jags are 1-2 in Sun Belt play while Arkansas State is 1-1. But how do they stack up statically.
Scoring offense: South Alabama ranks 3rd with an average of 31.3 points per game while Arkansas State ranks 5th with an average of 27.6 points per game.
Scoring Defense: Arkansas State ranks 5th by allowing an average of 28.9 points per game, they are just ahead of South Alabama who is in 6th place while allowing 29.1 points per game.
Total Offense: South Alabama ranks 3rd in the conference with an aveage of 446.6 yards of total offense per game. Arkansas State ranks 5th with an average of 435.1 yards per game.
Rushing Offense: Arkansas State gains an average of 192.4 yards rushing per game. South Alabama rushes for an average of 165.6 yards per game.
Passing Offense: South Alabama ranks 3rd with an average of 281.0 yards per game through the air. Arkansas State is in 4th place, right behind the the Jags, with an average of 240.1 yards through the air.
Total Defense: South Alabama ranks 5th in the conference by allowing an average of 416.0 yards per game. Arkansas State ranks 6th place, just behind the Jags, by allowing an average of 444.4 yards per game.
Rushing Defense: The Jags rank 5th by allowing an average of 173.1 yards per game on the ground. Arkansas State ranks 7th out of 8 by allowing an average of 204.3 yards per game on the ground.
Pass Defense: Arkansas State ranks 4th, one spot ahead of the Jags, by allowing an average of 240.1 yards per game through the air. The Jags, in 5th place, allow an average of 242.9 yards per game through the air.
Pass Efficiency: Again a close one. The Red Wolves rank 3rd in the conference with an efficiency rating of 137.3 with the Jags right behind them in 4th palce with an efficiency rating of 134.1.
Pass Defense Efficiency: Arkansas State ranks 5th with an opponents efficency rating of 128.9 while the Jags are in 6th place with an opponents efficiency rating of 135.4.
Kickoff Returns: Arkansas State ranks first in the conference with an average of 28.4 yards per kickoff return. The Jags rank 2nd in the conference with an average of 23.6 yards per kickoff return.
Punt Returns: Arkansas State ranks 5th with an average return of 7.4 yards per punt. South Alabama ranks 7th out of 8 with an average of 6.4 yards per punt return.
Interceptions: South Alabama ranks 4th in the conference with 8 interceptions through 7 games. Arkansas State ranks 7th out of 8 with only five interceptions through seven games.
Punting: Arkansas State ranks 4th in the conference with a net average of 36.6 yards per punt. South Alabama ranks 7th with a net punting average of 35.1 yards per punt.
Kickoff Coverage: Arkansas State ranks 4th with a net average of 40.1 yards per kickoff. South Alabama is behind them in 5th place with a net average of 37.6 yards per kickoff.
Field Goals: The Red Wolves lead the conference with a perfect 9-of-9 on the year in field goal attempts. South Alabama is tied for 6th place with an average of .615 by making 8-of-13 field goal attempts.
Sacks By: South Alabama ranks 2nd in the conference with 18 through seven games. Arkansas State is tied for 3rd with WKU with 14 sacks through seven games (WKU has 14 through eight games).
Sacks Against: South Alabama is in a three-way tie for first place with Texas State and ULL by allowing only 12 sacks (USA and ULL through seven games, TSU through eight games). Arkansas State ranks last in the conference by allowing 19 sacks through seven games.
First Downs: South Alabama ranks 5th with an average of 22.6 first downs per game. Arkansas State ranks 6th with an average of 21.9 first downs per game.
Opponent First Downs: South Alabama ranks 5th in the conference with opponents averaging 21.0 first downs per game. Arkansas State is 6th by allowing an average of 21.7 first downs per game.
Third Down Conversions: Arkansas State is 2nd with a conversion percentage of 47.2. South Alabama ranks 5th by converting an average of 40.4% of their third down attempts.
Opponents Third Down Conversions: South Alabama ranks 4th with opponents converting an average of 41.2% of their attempts. Arkansas State ranks 6th by allowing opponents to convert an average of 42.1% of their attempts.
Fourth Down Conversions: South Alabama ranks 5th by converting 30.8% of their attempts. Arkansas State ranks last as they have not converted 0-of-10 attempts.
Opponents Fourth Donw Conversions: Arkansas State ranks 6th in the conference with opponents converting 45.5% of their attempts. South Alabama opponents are converting an average of 54.5% of their attempts.
The Jags and the Red Wolves kick off at 6:30pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.