NEW ORLEANS – After helping the University of South Alabama football program to a Senior Day victory over Arkansas State on Saturday, a pair of Jaguars were honored by the Sun Belt Conference office on Monday.

Cole Garvin was voted the league's Offensive Player of the Week while Bull Barge claimed Defensive Play-of-the-Week honors following a 24-19 win that handed the Red Wolves their first conference loss of the season.

The Jaguars finished with minus-three rushing yards in the contest, but Garvin — making his first start since USA defeated Troy on Oct. 11 — responded by completing 25-of-45 attempts for 343 yards and a pair of second-half scores.  In addition to recording career highs in passing yards and total offense, Garvin's performance ranked second on the Jags' game record list in the former category while he finished with multiple touchdown passes in consecutive contests for the first time in his career.

It's the second occasion the junior quarterback has received the award since the start of the 2016 season.

Barge collected a game-high-tying 13 stops including one for loss — his first of the year — while also playing a part in a turnover that helped South protect a five-point advantage late in the final quarter of the game.  With A-State facing third-and-goal from the USA-4 and just over five minutes to go, the junior linebacker forced a fumble at the one-yard line that the Jaguars recovered in the end zone to thwart the threat.

It was the first time in his career that Barge has been credited with a double-figure tackle total, and the forced fumble was the second of his career after he had one his first two seasons with the program.

Other Jags to be honored by the SBC in 2017 include Gus Nave (Special Teams Player of the Week, Sept. 18) and Jeremy Reaves (co-Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 22).

South is next in action Saturday at 2 p.m. (CST) when it visits Georgia Southern.

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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—USA—