South Alabama Defeats #19 Ranked San Diego State 42-24
South Alabama gathers at midfield as they enter the field.
South Alabama was ready for #19 ranked San Diego State’s bid for revenge for last season’s loss to the Jaguars in overtime. They were also ready for the
Entering the game, the Jags were without their starting quarterback Dallas Davis and starting running back Xavier Johnson. Sophomore Cole Garvin stepped in and played a great game. Garvin was an efficient 16 of 21 for 242 yards and three touchdowns with only one interception.
Tyreis Thomas, who started in place of the injured Johnson led the Jags on the ground with 33 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. Dami Ayoola added 22 yards on eight carries with the other rushing touchdown for USA.
Garvin spread the ball around pretty well with Josh Magee earning the most catches with six for 83 yards and a touchdown but Gerald Everett lead the team with 103 receiving yards and a touchdown, including an 80 yard touchdown to open the 2nd half scoring.
Donnel Pumphrey entered the game as the nations leading rusher and averaged almost 200 yards per game, though he still rushed for a quiet 151 yards and a touchdown, the Jags kept him bottled up for most of the game.
Late in the second quarter the Jags got the ball after Kalen Jackson forced a fumble which was recovered by Sir’Calvin Wallace putting the Jags in great position to take a two-score lead, but the drive would end with Garvin’s lone mistake when he threw into double coverage and was picked off.
The Aztecs would drive to the Jaguar 17 yard line but the Jags defense held them to a field goal and took a 16-14 lead into the locker room.
The Jags opened up the scoring in the second half on the second play from scrimmage when Gerald Everett wasn’t covered on a pass play and Garvin had time to get it to him then Everett raced down the near sideline 80 yards for the touchdown.
The Aztecs would score one more time after holding USA to a three and out, they would ride Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny more most if not all of the 90 yards on the drive. Once they scored, they went for the two-point conversion and converted to take a 24-21 lead over USA.
South Alabama answered with a drive of their own covering 69 yards taking 11 plays and spanning 6:08 capped off by a 20 yard touchdown reception for Josh Magee. The Jags lead was 28-24 early in the fourth quarter.
Then the Jags broke it open after holding SDSU to a punt, the back-up long snapper snapped it over the punters head. He would fall on it at his own 3 yard line giving the Jags a 1st and goal from there. Ayoola would punch it into the end zone giving the Jags a two-score advantange 35-24.
On the next Aztec possession they methodically drive down the field to the Jaguar 24 before the Jags defense stropped the ball and Devon Earl picked it up and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. But on the play, defensive lineman Sir’Calvin Wallace went down and needed the trainers for the second time in the game. This time they brought the cart out but he refused to be carted off the field and hopped on one leg to the sideline.
The Jags dominated most offensive categories. USA outgained the Aztecs 331 to 316. Jags gained 242 through the air while SDSU threw for 159. Led by Pumphrey, the Aztecs out rushed the Jags 157 to 89. Additionally, the Jags possessed the ball for 33:17 to San Diego’s 26:43.
After a weekend off, the Jags will travel to Arkansas State looking to knotch their first win over the Red Wolves (0-4).