MOBILE, Ala. - The inaugural University of South Alabama football team has had plenty of time to prepare in starting its first season 4-0, with at least one open weekend before three of four contests. That won't be the case in the stretch run, though, as the Jaguars will play their final three games of 2009 in a 12-day stretch beginning with Saturday's match-up against Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy.
The Jags and Blue Devils will kick off at 4 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with plenty of activities planned prior to the contest.
Tailgating will start at 8 a.m. when the stadium parking lot opens, with all kids able to take part in a "Trunk or Treat" that will begin at 1 p.m. - all youth 13 and under wearing a costume or their favorite team's jersey will also receive a $5 general admission ticket to the game. The Jaguar Prowl will begin at the northeast end of the stadium when the team arrives at 1:40 p.m., while gates will open at 2 p.m.
And, for the first time this season, USA will make a change to the uniform it has worn for the first four contests by wearing red jerseys with red pants on Saturday.
The Jaguars have had two weeks to prepare for the game after defeating Louisburg (N.C.) J.C. 41-7 on Oct. 17.
"It's a little different because we've been in a slow-down mode and now we're in a speed-up mode, especially with games Saturday, Saturday and Thursday," USA head coach Joey Jones said. "There's going to have to be a little more urgency to each practice. Our kids have been practicing that way, I've been really proud of them, but the interesting thing is going to be after that second Saturday game when we play on Thursday. That's going to be an interesting week."
The Jags are coming off a defensive effort in which they surrendered a season-low 222 total yards in the win over LJC, which included giving up only 52 yards on 38 carries. Four players - Josh Chestang, Justin Dunn, Anton Graphenreed and Enrique Williams - led the team with five tackles in that contest, with Chestang recording three behind the line of scrimmage including a pair of sacks.
Dunn leads the team with 29 total stops and six tackles for loss, while nine other Jaguars have amassed a double-digit tackle total in the first four games. USA is giving up 256.2 yards per outing, allowing 4.3 yards per play, and has forced 14 turnovers thus far this fall.
Brandon Ross - who is averaging more than 90 yards per contest and seven per carry - once again led the Jag offensive attack against the Hurricanes, recording 138 yards and three scores on 13 attempts. His efforts helped USA post 310 yards on the ground last time out, as 270 of its 413 total yards per game this season have been provided via the run.
A trio of quarterbacks, Myles Gibbon, Brennan Sim and Nick Owens, combined to go 13-of-17 passing in the LJC victory, though, for a season-best 76.5 completion percentage. Nine individuals caught at least one pass, with four recording two receptions, as the Jaguars added 164 yards through the air against the Hurricanes.
Courtney Smith continues to be the favorite target of USA quarterbacks, as he is the only receiver with a double-figure reception total - he has caught 11 balls for 193 yards, with at least two catches in every contest.
The Blue Devils (5-3) enter play winners of three of the last four games after defeating Maryland 14-13 on Monday. Since scoring 69 points in a Sept. 20 win at Radford, FUMA has collected a total of 54 points in its last five outings, although defensively the Blue Devils have given up only 26 points in four games this month.
FUMA and the Jags have faced one common opponent thus far this year in Louisburg, with the Hurricanes defeating the Blue Devils 48-16 on Sept. 13.
"They've got some good athletes. I've been watching Fork Union on film and they're a very good defensive football team - they have great talent on that side of the ball," stated Jones. "Fork Union runs a multiple offense like most of the teams we're playing, they're in the shotgun and under center."
Buses from the USA campus will run at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and are open to the general public - there is no charge for students, and it costs $5 round trip for all other individuals. Shuttles from the Bel Air Mall will begin running at noon from the south parking lot behind Target and JC Penney, with the cost $2.50 for a round-trip ride. Continuous service will provided until 90 minutes after the completion of the game.
Tickets for the game can be purchased online at www.usagameday.com, or by calling the USA Athletic Ticket Office at (251) 461-1USA (1872) by 5 p.m. Friday. They can also be obtained in person by visiting the Mitchell Center ticket office on campus through the end of the day Friday, or at the stadium starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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