Jags Fall To Ohio 27-20, Drop To 0-2 On Season
South Alabama simply were their own worst enemy in Athens on Saturday. The Jags (0-2) couldn’t get a stop late and had too many penalties as they fall short 27-20 to Ohio University (1-1).
The Jags fell behind 10-0 near midway in the second quarter. The second score, a touchdown, was set up by a fumbled punt by Jamaal Pritchett at the Jags own 18 yard line. The defense stiffened up after Aleki Pulkkinen was able to flip the field with a 47 yard punt that was fair caught at the Bobcat 9 yard line. After forcing a 3-and-out, the Jags offense was in business on their 36.
Davenport opened the drive with a pair of passes, but the offense wasn’t able to do anything more and had to settle for a 28 yard field goal by Laith Marjan.
Another defensive three-and-out and a poor punt by Ohio gave the Jags a short field. The drive turned into the Fluff Bothwell show. He carried the ball four straight plays for 37 total yards, the final 8 put him in the end zone to make it a tie game with 1:25 left in the half.
But that was too much time for the Bobcats.
Ohio went to the air behind Parker Navarro and quickly scored in only 49 seconds. The touchdown play being a 33 yard pass to Chase Hendricks down the right side to take a 17-10 lead into halftime.
The opening drive of the second half was very reminiscent of the second half against North Texas. The Jag defense couldn’t get off the field as the Bobcats methodically drove 76 yards in 11 plays using 6:14 off the clock to go up two scores.
But unlike last week, South Alabama immediately responded.
The Jags converted two 3rd downs and a 4th down. On the first 3rd down Davenport rolled to his right, saw an opening and took off to convert. A few plays later facing 3rd and 21, Davenport connected with Devin Voisin to get 18 yards and set up 4th & 3. On fourth down, Davenport went to Fluff Bothwell. Bothwell caught the ball just as he was hit by a defender, shook him off and ran for a few more yards and the first down. Then on 3rd & 2 at the Bobcat 26, Davenport went back to Voisin for 17 on the right side of the field for a first and goal. Davenport then hooked up with Pritchett for a touchdown pass over the middle of the field to cut the lead to 24-17.
South Alabama immediately got the ball back after Tyler Thomas got a strip sack on Navarro with Carlos Johnson Jr recovering at the Ohio 41 late in the 3rd quarter. The Jags were unable to get into the end zone and settled for a 38-yard field goal by Marjan.
The Jag got the ball back after the defense forced and three-and-out. But Ohio shut down the offense, got the ball back after a punt, and then they just drained almost eight minutes off the clock. A 14 play, 78 yard drive eating up 7:53 ended in a field goal with just 3:16 left.
Head coach Major Applewhite decided to punt the ball back with a little over two minutes left with all three time outs left hoping to get a stop.
But they couldn’t find that stop.
Stats
| South Alabama | Ohio | |
| Total Yards | 336 | 404 |
| Passing Yards | 227 | 204 |
| Rushing Yards | 109 | 200 |
| 1st Downs | 18 | 20 |
| 3rd Downs | 5-of-16 | 6-of-15 |
| 4th Downs | 1-for-1 | 1-for-1 |
| Time of Possession | 27:43 | 32:17 |
| Turnovers (Points Off) | 1 (0) | 1 (3) |
South Alabama
Davenport was an efficient 24-of-38 for 227 yards with a touchdown in his first start for the Jags. He had one pass that was intercepted, however a defensive roughing the passer negated the turnover.
Pritchett led the Jags receivers with 8 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Voisin led the Jag receivers with 77 yards on his 5 catches. Sandgren added 35 yards on three catches and PJ Martin added 26 yards on a pair of catches. DJ Thomas-Jones was held to only one catch for 2 yards.
Fluff Bothwell led the Jags rushing attack with 70 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown. Kentrel Bullock added 28 yards on six carries. Davenport had 12 yards on 10 attempts.
Blayne Myrick led the defense with 10 total stops, 6 solo, with a forced fumble and .5 tackles for loss. Jordan Scruggs, with a broken thumb, had 7 total stops, 3 solo, with .5 TFLs. Wesley Miller had two TFL’s. Tyler Thomas had a sack.
Ohio University
Parker Navarro went 20-for-28 with 204 yards and a touchdown. His favorite receiver was Coleman Owen with 5 catches for 33 yards. Chase Hendricks led the Bobcats with 65 yards on 4 catches with a touchdown.
Anthony Tyus III led the Bobcat rushing game with 74 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown. Rickey Hunt Jr was right on his heels with 73 yards on just 3 carries and Navarro added 62 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown.
The bobcat defense got one sack, three quarterback hurries, and 5 tackles for loss.
“It was disappointing,” said coach Applewhite. “There were mistakes in the game, but in terms of the way they played, I was proud of the way they competed.”
After getting the ball with 3:15 left in the game and down one score, the Jags shot themselves in the foot. A holding penalty and a false start ended the drive before it could even get started and the defense was unable to get the ball back.
“When we get it down to a four-point game, get the ball at the 50-yard line, we go three and out, then it’s a seven-point game,” Applewhite said. “We get the ball back again, a chance to go tie it and we back up eight yards. So, just some untimely execution on each side of the ball in terms of what we need to do to play complimentary football.”
“We’re maturing as a ball club in terms of poise and composure in these late, fourth quarter games,” Applewhite observed. “But we didn’t make plays.”
Gio Lopez was held out of the game due to a turf toe injury suffered in the Jags loss to North Texas last week. Despite the injury, he set a program record with 432 passing yards and 496 total offensive yards.
Redshirt sophomore Bishop Davenport, a transfer from Utah State prior to the 2023 season, played a very poised game.
“I’m proud of the way he competed, proud of the way he played, proud of the opportunities he gave the offense,” Applewhite said.
There were a few Jaguars who missed the game, one of which was Braylon McReynolds, who was a game-time decision and didn’t see action.
“I expect no matter what the position is, if there’s a backup that comes in, I expect them to come in and perform because they’re here and they’re great players and they work their tail off,” Applewhite said.
Next
South Alabama will return home to face Northwestern State, an FCS school, on a short week. The Jags and the Demons are scheduled to kickoff at 6:30pm on Thursday, September 12 at Hancock Whitney Stadium on ESPN+.
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