South Alabama vs Arkansas State: Gameday
The South Alabama Jaguars will host two-time Sun Belt Conference defending champions Arkansas State Red Wolves this evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Both teams have an overall record of 3-4. South Alabama’s conference record is 1-2 after last week’s loss at Texas State. Arkansas State’s conference record is 1-1 after last week’s 23-7 loss at home to Louisiana-Lafayette.
South Alabama fans are asked to wear their Jaguar Blue to the game and the first 10,000 fans entering the stadium will receive a white Jaguar Rally Towel.
Parking is limited at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and only season ticket holders can purchase parking passes. Parking for single game ticket holders will not be able to park at the stadium. Parking in the immediate vicinity of the stadium are not controlled nor managed by USA or Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
South Alabama and the City of Mobile have partnered with “The Wave” for shuttle service from Bel Air Mall to the stadium. A round trip will cost only $2.50. The shuttle runs from the Bel Air Mall parking lot south of Target and JC Penny. They will begin running at 2:30pm and will run continuously until 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game. The parking area at Bel Air Mall is well lit and USA is providing security.
The Jaguar Prowl is scheduled for 4:10pm. The coaches and players will depart their buses at the Southeast corner of the stadium and walk along the south side of the stadium to the Southeast entrace.
Live play-by-play coverage of the game will be aired on 105.5fm WNSP in the Mobile area and will be streamed worldwide on www.wnsp.com. The game can be seen on ESPN3.com nationally.
Arkansas State has won eight consecutive road games against Sun Belt Conference opponents. Reciever/kick returner J.K. McKissic, an Alabama native from Phenix City, leads the Sun Belt in receptions per game with 5.7. He has 40 catches for 347 yards and two touchdowns on the season. He is third in the conference in punt return average, third in kickoff return average and is also third in the conference in all-purpose yards per game (123.7).
Head coach Joey Jones has said that they are a very talented team on offense, particularly at the skill positions. Quarterback Adam Kennedy transferred from Utah State. They lead the conference in offense and are very explosive.
Jones also said that they are very good on defense with several seniors up front. They are two-time defending conference champs, so they know how to win.
The Jags are a 3.5 point favorite in this game.
Additionally, this is the South Alabama Athletic Hall of Game game. Amber Angermeier (women’s soccer 2001-2004), Stephanie Richardson (women’s basketball 1988-1991) and Vincent Rono (Men’s track & field/cross country 2006-2007) will be inducted into the USA Sports Hall of Fame today and will be honored at halftime of the game.
Go Jags!
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.