Jags Down Alabama A&M 45-0
The South Alabama Jaguars huddle in the end zone after pregame warmups for their match up against Alabama A&M on September 16, 2017.
South Alabama handled scored offensively, defensively, and on special teams in their 45-0 shutout of Alabama A&M.
It was a game the Jags needed to back on track after opening the season with two big games against Ole Miss and Oklahoma State, which they both lost. This game started the second part of the season, a 10-game season that started with the Bulldogs.
The Jags started slow with a drive that fizzed out at the Bulldog 2 yard line and settling for a 19-yard Gavin Patterson field goal to put the first points on the board. But on A&M’s first possession, the Jaguar defense kept helping the A&M offense with penalties, but came up big when it counted. The Bulldogs got the the Jaguar 5 yard line and settled for a 22 yard field goal attempt which was blocked by Gus Nave, who scooped it up and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown.
After a three-and-out by the defense, it only took the Jaguar offense two plays to score. The big play was a 53 yard strike from Dallas Davis to Jamarius Way to the 2-yard line. Xavier Johnson capped it off with a two-yard scamper to make it 17-0.
The defense got in on the action after a holding penalty pinned the Bulldogs at their own 9, Nigel Lawrence forced a fumble that Rocel McWilliams covered in the endzone, making the Jaguar lead 24-0 with 3:21 left in the opening quarter.
USA and A&M traded possession through most of the second quarter until the 3:46 mark before halftime when a scrambling Dallas Davis moved to his right and directed Sa’Mory Collier open then dropped a great pass right into his awaiting arms then Collier took it the rest of the way for a 66-yard touchdown making it 31-0.
Xavier Johnson added 6-yard touchdown with 4:54 left in the 3rd quarter.
On the next possession by A&M, on 2nd & 5, Aqeel Glass threw deep down the left sideline which Nave, who blocked and returned a field goal attempt in the first quarter, picked off the pass but suffered an injury in the process.
The interception set up the final points of the game when David connected with Jahmmir Taylor for a 28 yard score making it 45-0.
South Alabama put up 413 total yards, 158 rushing and 255 passing. Alabama A&M gained 172 yards, 100 yards of them passing and 72 rushing.
Dallas Davis went 9-of-12 for 255 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers. Evan Orth did not complete his only pass attempt. Denzel Foster led all rushers with 44 yards on only four attempts. Tra Minter added 33 yards on 7 carries, Xavier had 32 yards on 9 carries.
Jamarius Way caught two passes for 85 yards, Collier had one catch for 66 yards and a touchdown. Sam Harris caught two for 38 yards, Taylor hauled in his only catch for 28 yards and a touchdown. Reinkemeyer caught two for 22 yards and Kawaan Baker caught one for 16 yards.
Jeremy Reaves had five tackles, one of them for a loss. Chason Milner had five tackles with a sack and Tobias Moss also had five tackles.
Unfortunately the injury to Gus Name does not sound good from initial reports. With Jalen Thompson being ruled academically ineligible prior to the season, Neiko Robinson’s season-ending foot injury and Bobby Flott’s knee bothering him and causing him miss the game, the Jaguar’s depth in the secondary is getting quite thin.
Center Dominic Esposito went down early when the play ran up on him near the end zone but he walked around on the sideline and rode the workout bike on the sideline for quite a while. Sam Harris and Jamarius Way both left the game with some type of injury, hopefully only keeping them out for precautionary reasons.
USA will open Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, September 23 against the Idaho Vandals with kickoff scheduled for 1pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.