Jags Fall To #14 Ranked LSU 42-10
South Alabama allowed 157 yards on the first three snaps on defense as the #14 ranked LSU Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back in their 42-10 defeat of the Jaguars.
LSU (4-1) opened the game with a swing pass from Garrett Nussmeier to running back Caden Durham that went 71 yards on the very first play of the game. After a Jaguar punt, Nussmeier handed the ball off to Durham and he shredded the defense for 86 yards before a defender was able to take him down at the 1-yard line. Nussmeier followed his line into the end zone to put the Tigers up 14-0 under 5 minutes into the game.
“Obviously, we just started very poorly,” head coach Major Applewhite said. “Defensively we gave up two huge plays. We had a touchdown and an explosive play to the one-inch line. We have to look at ourselves as coaches and figure out how we can prepare our guys differently to give them a better opportunity to win. Give credit to LSU. They are a great football program.”
Later in the opening quarter, Durham was in the endzone again on an 8-yard run for an LSU 21-0 advantage.
Early in the second quarter Laith Marjan snuck a 49-yard field goal over the crossbar to get the Jags on the board, 21-3. LSU would add two more scores before halftime to take a 35-3 lead into halftime.
South Alabama opened the second half with a 75-yard touchdown dive after making halftime adjustment. Gio Lopez capped it off with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Eager on the right side of the endzone for the Jags only touchdown.
“Don’t give up,” wide receiver Anthony Eager explained after the game. “Even though we struggled at the start, we came out in the second half swinging and that energy is what we need to beat any other team in the Sun Belt.”
They had an opportunity to add another touchdown in the third quarter when the Jags faced a 4th and goal at the 4. Lopez dropped back then took off up the middle but was stopped dead in his tracks at the 1-yard line.
LSU got their only points of the second half and the final points of the game with 14:08 left in the game as the Tigers drove 99-yards on 12 plays.
“As a team, it was good to see that we came out in the second half and show that we can play with these guys and give them three-and-outs, but at the end of the day it was too late,” explained Jaden Voisin. “I think we need to grow from that. I think we need to play like we did in the second half, the whole game, and just build from that.”
As a bright spot, the Jags had zero turnovers, fewer penalties, and two takeaways.
South Alabama
Gio Lopez finished 16-of-22 for 171 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked three times. Bishop Davenport was 4-of-8 for 50 yards.
Anthony Eager led the receivers with 91 yards on 4 catches with the only Jaguar touchdown. Jamaal Pritchett added 40 yards on 3 catches.
Kentrel Bullock led the Jags rushing attack with 56 yards on 9 carries. Lopez had 33 yards on 10 carries and Fluff Bothwell ended with only 17 yards on 10 carries.
Amarion Fortenberry led the defense with 10 stops, 8 solo, and two pass breakups.
Lardarius Webb Jr got an interception late in the second quarter. Jaden Voisin got a pick around the 5 yard line in the third quarter to turn away an LSU scoring opportunity.
LSU
Garett Nussmeier was 26-of-39 for 409 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Kyren Lacy had 107 yards on 5 catches while Durham finished with 89 yards on 3 catches with a touchdown.
Durham led all rushers with 128 yards on 7 carries with a touchdown.
Team Stats
| Stat | USA | LSU |
| Total Yards | 333 | 667 |
| Passing Yards | 221 | 430 |
| Rushing Yards | 112 | 237 |
| 3rd Downs | 4-of-14 | 6-of-9 |
| 4th Downs | 1-of-3 | 0-of-0 |
| Penalties – Yards | 5 – 35 | 4- 40 |
Next
With the Jaguars out of conference schedule finished, the Jags will turn all of their focus on the Sun Belt. They will finish out their three-game road swing with a trip to Jonesboro, Arkansas on Saturday, October 5 to face Arkansas State. The game is slated for a 6pm kickoff and will be streamed on ESPN+.