TUCSON, Ariz. – With a couple of milestone victories recorded during the 2016 regular season, the University of South Alabama football program will aim for one more historic result when it returns to postseason play on Friday.

As part of the 2016 campaign, the Jaguars posted the school's first-ever victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent by opening the year with a 21-20 decision at Mississippi State.  One month later, a 42-24 defeat of No. 19 San Diego State provided South with its initial win over a national-ranked opponent.

On Friday, the Jags will have an opportunity win their first postseason bowl game when they meet Air Force in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, which will kick off at 4:30 p.m. (CST) at Arizona Stadium.  The contest will be broadcast live on the American Sports Network and be streamed simultaneously at www.CampusInsiders.com, with radio coverage available on both WRKH 96.1 FM and 99.5 The Jag as well as via the iHeartRadio app for free.

Both teams enter the contest coming off a win in their regular-season finale, although the Falcons (9-3) have claimed five straight outings including a defeat of No. 20 Boise State last time out.  The Jaguars, with a 6-6 mark, are making their first postseason appearance since the 2014 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Air Force, however, is playing in its seventh postseason game since 2009, the inaugural season for the Jag football program.

USA's defense enters the match-up having given up 25.5 points and 384 yards per game, but will be facing an Air Force offense that averages 34.3 points and 322.8 yards per contest rushing while gaining better than 11 yards per pass play.

Darrell Songy — a member of the Sun Belt Conference's All-Newcomer Team — leads the Jags with 84 total stops, with Roman Buchanan adding 80 including nine for loss and Jeremy Reaves credited with 77.  The latter also broke up seven passes and intercepted three others to earn first-team all-league honors, while Jalen Thompson picked off a team-best four passes and broke up another six.  Devon Earl returned two fumbles for scores, and he also added three passes defensed and 4½ stops behind the line of scrimmage while collecting 65 tackles, which was one more than first-team all-Sun Belt selection Randy Allen.  Allen was among the conference and national leaders after recording 18 stops for loss and 11 sacks.

The Falcons have four individuals who have gained 600 or more yards rushing this fall including quarterback Arion Worthman, who has run for 603 yards and six touchdowns in only six appearances.  Jacobi Owens leads the squad with 785 yards, Tim McVey has supplied 667 — along with a team-high 10 scores — and D.J. Johnson has added 617, helping the unit rank fourth in the country in rushing.

Jale Robinette has accounted for 33 of the unit's 61 catches on the year, posting 835 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 25.3 yards per reception.  In fact, six of seven Falcons who have caught a ball have an average of at least 20 yards per reception.

The Jag offense has thrown for more than 240 yards per outing while recording better than 395 yards and 25 points per contest.  Gerald Everett was voted first-team all-Sun Belt after catching 49 passes for 717 yards and four scores, while Josh Magee was a second-team all-league selection with 44 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns.  Kevin Kutchera chipped in with 29 catches for 523 yards and Tyrone Williams supplied 296 yards on 26 receptions as Dallas Davis completed 188-of-325 attempts for 2,461 yards and 10 scores.  Davis also rushed for 250 yards, but the South ground attack was paced by Xavier Johnson who posted 787 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging just under 5.5 yards per carry.  Dami Ayoola ran for 300 yards as well while scoring six touchdowns, the second-highest total on the team.

Weston Steelhammer tops an AF defense that is giving up under 370 total yards and 27 points per contest with 75 total stops and six interceptions, leading all active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players with 17 in his career.  Brodie Hicks stands second on the team with both 70 tackles and four interceptions with Grant Ross adding 65 stops, while Haji Dunn Jr. has amassed 10½ stops behind the line including five sacks, seven passes broken up, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.  Ryan Watson leads the group with 11 tackles for loss and nine sacks, Jacob Onyechi has been credited with 7½ stops behind the line of scrimmage, and Jesse Washington has defended 10 passes as well.

An opponent with a storied tradition and recent success stands in the way of the South Alabama football team.  But should the Jaguars be able to handle that challenge on Friday, they'll finish the season the same way they started — with a victory that will provide a milestone as the program continues to build its history.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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