BEAUMONT, Texas – The University of South Alabama football team’s defense was extremely busy — and effective — Saturday as the Jaguars began their toughest stretch since the program’s inception. The unit recovered four fumbles, running back one for a score, broke up seven passes and limited Lamar to a season-low 161 yards of total offense in earning a 26-0 victory over the Cardinals at Umphrey Provost Stadium.
“You have to play great defense on the road, and we did that tonight,” observed Jaguar head coach Joey Jones. “I’m real proud of the staff and players. They played lights out tonight. They knew this was their first big challenge, and answered that call.”
“We brought it up another level in practice this week,” added Jake Johnson, who three solo stops and forced a fumble on a sack. “We had great practices all week, and we really wanted to show what we could do on defense.
“This was big game, because we know we can stop the run,” he continued. “They are known for their passing game, and I think it showed we are a well-rounded defense. I think it was good for us to get on the road in a hostile environment. We played a great game defensively; we didn’t give up any big plays, and just really stepped up.”
LU entered play averaging nearly 300 yards per contest through the air, but USA limited the Cards to 15-of-36 passing for 105 yards and only 56 more on 27 rushing attempts. They managed to cross midfield on just three of their 14 possessions — not including a kneel down on the final play of the first half — including only once after the intermission.
Charlie Higgenbotham led the unit with a season-best six stops to lead the group, and he also was one of three individuals from the unit credited with a forced fumble as USA scored 17 points off Lamar miscues. Ken Barefield made four solo tackles, forced a fumble and broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone, while Logan Bennett and Jerron Mitchell chipped in with three stops each. Mitchell and Anton Graphenreed both were credited with two pass breakups also.
Actually, it was the defense that put the first points of the game on the board. The Jaguars had moved across midfield with a couple of first-down runs from Kendall Houston and T.J. Glover, but the drive stalled and Scott Garber’s punt was returned just two yards to the LU-8. On the Cards’second play from scrimmage, Higgenbotham forced a fumble that Josh Chestang picked up and returned 11 yards for a score with 10-and-a-half minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
“It was amazing. At first I didn’t know what hit me, but once I realized what I did it was a good feeling,” Chestang commented. “It put the first points on the board and it set the momentum. We knew we had our hands full tonight, but we just wanted to come out and compete each play.”
Midway through the third quarter on the Cards’ second possession, Bevil completed a pass to Josh Powdrill for a gain of seven yards on fourth-and-five to the USA-25, but he lost the ball on LU’s next play with Romelle Jones falling on the ball for the Jaguars on the 29-yard line. USA would respond with a six-play drive, taking a 20-0 lead when Brennan Sim found Ellis Hill after a play-action fake for a one-yard touchdown with four-and-a-half minutes left in the period one play after Santuan McGee carried for a 12-yard gain. Sim also hit Corey Waldon for a 25-yard completion earlier in the possession.
Lawson McGlon would tack on to that lead when he kicked his school-record third field goal from 30 yards out in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to push the advantage to 23-0, as the Jags took advantage of a short field after Johnson’s sack of Bevil forced a fumble that Randon Carnathan recovered at the LU-20.
And when Lamar did have chances to score, the Jaguars made plays to keep the Cardinals off the board. Facing fourth-and-10 from the USA-37 early in the second period, Bevil attempted to hit Kendrick Prejean in the end zone, but Barefield came across to break up the play. The Cards threatened again after a blocked punt started their next possession at the Jaguar 36-yard line, moving as far as the USA-7 before settling for a 31-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left. Graphenreed broke up passes intended for Marcus Jackson in the end zone on both second and third down.
Offensively the Jags would gain 376 yards, which included a school-record 166 on 21 carries from Houston. Glover carried eight times for 32 yards, while C.J. Bennett rushed for 26 and added 109 through the air after completing 13 of his 16 attempts. Courtney Smith caught a career-best seven catches, the most in the program’s history, while Paul Bennett, Glover, Jeremé Jones, Bryant Lavender and Waldon all had two receptions each.
“We sputtered somewhat on offense when we got the ball into the red zone, but we moved the ball well between the 30s,” analyzed Jones. “We had to settle for four field goals, but when you’re on the road sometimes that happens.
“I’m really proud of Kendall and the way he came in for Brandon [Ross] after we lost him last week. He really stepped up and ran like a Division I running back tonight.”
“Our running back got hurt, and the team was depending on me. I just had to run hard and get the job done,” Houston said. “I felt there was a little pressure on me, but I just had to go to practice each day and work hard. I feel good about how I played, but I feel like I can do better.”
“When my time comes, it comes. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know when,” Smith added. “As a receiver you want the ball, but you can’t do anything about it but play. My time came tonight and my team needed me, and I came through.”
USA extended its lead to 10-0 late in the first period when Bennett marched the Jags 62 yards in seven plays — keyed by a 29-yard pickup from Houston — to set up a 22-yard field goal from McGlon. McGlon also connected on a 32-yard field goal with just over 10 minutes to go in the third quarter to make the score 13-0 after the Jaguars moved the ball 42 yards in six plays on its initial drive of the second half. Houston opened the possession with gains of 22 and 15 to take the ball from the USA-43 to the LU-20.
McGlon’s fourth field goal, this time from 29 yards out, finished the scoring with three minutes left in the contest.
The Jags return to the road next weekend, taking on UC Davis Saturday at 4 p.m. Central time in the second of three straight contests against NCAA Football Championship Subdivision teams.
“We know that UC Davis is a very good team; they’ve beaten San Jose State and won their conference last year,” Jones stated. “They’re a very sound team, we are going to have to go out to California and see what we’ve got. But, our kids are real excited about that. We’re trying to take this thing with baby steps, and we’ve taken some big steps already.
“It’s a great win, but where we stand I don’t know. At the end of the year I think we’ll be able to look back and see where we are as a team. All I know is that we came on the road, and were on the bus for six hours. The kids did a great job being focused, and we played a great ballgame. It’s a big win for our program.”.
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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