South Alabama vs Navy By The Numbers
South Alabama travels to play Navy tomorrow in Annapolis, Maryland. Kickoff for the game is set for 2:30 CST and the first of a home-and-home series.
The Midshipmen run the triple-option which is now considered a throw-back offense. However they run it to near perfection which is not unexpected from a service academy. In the Midshipmen’s 38-34 loss to Notre Dame they did not commit a single penalty.
The key to any team that runs the triple-option is the quarterback. This holds true with Navy. Keenan Reynolds is the engine that makes the Navy offense go. Reynolds is the team’s leading rusher with 825 yards and 18 touchdowns. He also throws for an average of 90.4 yards per game, though they rarely go to the air. He does have six touchdown passes and has been intercepted twice in 91 attempts.
When the midshipmen throw 9 or fewer passes, they have a much higher winning percentage.
Navy ranks 5th in the nation in rushing offense with an average of 306.6 yards per game and 32 rushing touchdowns on the season. The Jags rank 72nd in the nation in ushing with an average of 162.8 yards per game and 18 touchdowns.
South Alabama ranks 31st in the nation is passing offense with an average of 274.4 yards per game and 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Navy ranks 122nd out of 123 with an average of 97.1 yards per game with six touchdowns.
South Alabama ranks 46th in total offense with an average of 437.1 yards per game and 29 touchdowns. Navy ranks 69th in the nation with an average of 403.7 yards per game of total offense with 38 touchdowns.
In total defense, South Alabama ranks just ahead of Navy in overall yards per game allowed. The Jags rank 73rd with an average of 407.6 yards per game and 26 touchdowns. Navy ranks 76th in the nation and allows an average of 412.9 yards per game and 31 touchdowns.
Navy Ranks 27th in the nation in pass defense by allowing an average of 213.2 yards per game through the air or an average of 10.32 yards per completion. The Jags rank 66th in the nation allowing an average of 232.5 yards per game and 11.41 yards per completion.
The Jags rank 79th in the nation in rushing defense allowing an average of 175.1 yards per game and a naverage of 4.64 yards per rush and only eight touchdowns. Navy ranks 98th in the nation in rushing defense by allowing an average of 199.7 yards per game and an average of 4.94 yards per rush. They have only given up 14 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Navy ranks 53rd in the nation in scoring offense with 30.9 points per game. South Alabama ranks 63rd in scoring offense with an average of 29.4 points per game.
Navy ranks 64th in the nation in scoring defense allowing an average of 26.4 points per game while South Alabama ranks 72nd in the nation by allowing an average of 27.6 points per game.
The Jags have lost four games this season by two points or less and their three conference losses has been by a total of four points. Their largest loss of the season was by seven points to the University of Tennessee.
Wes Saxton is the team’s leading receiver with 39 receptions for 496 yards while averaging 62.0 yards per game. Shavarez Smith is second on the team with 29 catches for 551 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 68.9 yards per game. Jereme Jones is third with 28 catches for 335 yards and two touchdowns with an average of 41.8 yards per game. Danny Woodson ranks fourth on the team with 26 catches this season for 439 yards and four touchdowns. However Woodson is gone for the season with a ruptured achilles. The next two receivers have 14 catches each with Bryant Lavender gaining 168 yards and Jay Jones gaining 114 yards. Lavender is the only one of the two with a touchdown.
Look for Corey Besteda to be used more with Woodson gone for the season.
Jay Jones is the leading rusher with 446 yards on the season with three touchdowns. Ross Metheny is second with 359 yards and eight touchdowns. Cris Dinham is the third leading rusher with 266 yards and two touchdowns, though he is also gone for the remainder of the regular season with a knee injury. He could possibly return if the Jags get to go to a bowl game though.
Brandon Bridge is fourth in rushing with 196 yards, Kendall Houston is sixth an the last Jag in triple digits rushing with 101 yards.
Tomorrows game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network as well as every Jaguar game it will be broadcast on 105.5FM WNSP and streamed on wnsp.com.
Also look for Terrance Timmons and Julien Valentin to possibly get more playing time in Dinham’s absence.