MOBILE, Ala. – The last time the University of South Alabama football team faced an in-state opponent under the lights, the Jaguars came away with a shutout victory — that 35-0 win over Huntingdon (Ala.) in November 2009 clinched the first of two straight undefeated seasons for the Jaguars.

The Jags will attempt to extend their winning streak to 18 in a row Thursday when they play host to West Alabama at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the season-opening contest for both schools.  The game, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m., will air live locally and regionally on UTV 44 as well as on the web at ESPN3.com.

“I am as excited about this season as any season we’ve been involved with,” stated USA head coach Joey Jones.  “The first year was exciting because it was the first game, but there is something about a new year. One thing about coaching and playing football — it’s always a new season. Our players are very excited. The level of intensity we have had during practice is amazing. Their emotion levels have really been up the last couple of days, so I am looking forward to watching them Thursday.”

All Jag fans are encouraged to wear “Red” Thursday night, and the USA Athletic Marketing Department will be distributing free red shakers at all gates beginning at 4:30 p.m.  The Jaguar Prowl will begin at 4:10 p.m. when the team arrives on site, with fans asked to line the route along the south side of the stadium at 4 p.m., while the parking lot will open at noon.

Continuous shuttle service to Ladd-Peebles Stadium will be available at the Bel Air Mall, with the cost $2.50 per person for a round-trip ticket; it will depart the mall parking lot south of Target and J.C. Penney beginning at 2:30 p.m. and provide continuous loop service until 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.  Fans are encouraged to ride before 5:30 p.m. in order to arrive at the stadium before kickoff.

Immediately after the contest ends, there will be a fireworks show.

Based on 2010 statistics for both programs, each coming off winning seasons as UWA was 7-4 last fall, an offensive shootout would not be a surprise.  A year ago, the Jags averaged 439.7 yards per outing while the Tigers’ offensive output was 449.2 yards per game, although USA scored nearly two touchdowns more on average (41.3 ppg to UWA’s 29.7).  The biggest difference in the two units will be at quarterback; C.J. Bennett returns to guide the Jaguars after throwing for 1,189 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman, while the Tigers will be without the services of the departed Deon Williams, who completed 223-of-356 pass attempts for 3,392 yards and 25 scores in ’10.

Both teams return their top runner from last season, and UWA also has its leading receiver back as well.  Kendall Houston took over for an injured Brandon Ross for the Jags midway through last year, going on to post a total of five games with 100-plus yards en route to a total of 891— to go along with a team-leading 10 touchdowns — while averaging better than six yards per attempt.  The Tigers will be led by the tandem of T-Ray Mitchell and Gerald Worsham; the former collected 843 yards and six scores on the ground last fall, the latter caught 80 passes for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns.

While USA will be without the services of Courtney Smith, who caught 38 balls for 592 yards five touchdowns a year ago, three other individuals — Bryant Lavender, Jeremé Jones and Corey Waldon —all reached double figures in receptions last year.  Lavender paced the trio with 16 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns, Jones had 15 and two scores while Waldon recorded 14 receptions for 291 yards.  In addition, tight ends Paul Bennett and Kevin Helms both caught nine passes as well.

In addition to returning nine starters on offense, seven are back on defense this fall from a Jaguar unit that held the opposition to just 81.2 rushing yards, 254.6 total yards and 13 points per game.  And that total doesn’t include inside linebacker Enrique Williams, who topped the team with 48 total tackles while also breaking up three passes in 2010.  Ken Barefield (37 stops, three PBUs) and Jake Johnson (31 tackles, four sacks) also ranked in the top five on the unit in stops, while Romelle Jones paced the group with six tackles for loss.  The Jags forced an average of two-and-a-half turnovers per contest, allowing opponents to convert on third downs just 26 percent of the time.

Middle linebacker Gabe Poe recorded 97 total stops, including eight for loss, to pace a Tiger unit that surrendered 375.7 total yards and 22.3 points per contest — that total was 33 more than any other player on the roster.  Fellow linebackers Deon Lacey and Bryant McGowan chipped in with 49 and 46 tackles, respectively, while D’Eric Jackson led the squad with three interceptions; he ran back two of those for touchdowns.

“I feel good about our team and where we are.  We’ve been building this thing for three years now, and the kids have gotten bigger, faster, stronger, more mature and experienced,” observed Jones.  “We didn’t lose too many starters from last year, so you kind of know what to expect from your guys. We have a lot of experienced guys back, but you still want to see them against another ball team. You don’t know how good you are until you play someone else.”

Both teams return their punter — Scott Garber averaged 40.4 yards per kick with 16 downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line for the Jaguars, while UWA’s Brock Sharp averaged 37.9 yards per punt — with the latter also expected to handle placekicking duties for the Tigers after connecting on 12-of-19 attempts last fall.  USA has three experienced individuals who have competed for that role throughout preseason camp, with Jordan Means listed on top of the depth chart entering play; he was 4-of-4 on field goals last year, ranking third on the team with 34 points.  Jones, who averaged 19.4 yards per punt return last season, will play an active role in the Jags’ return game along with newcomer B.J. Scott, with Wes Mounger (21.9 yards per kick return, 11.9 per punt run back) expected to do the same for the Tigers.

“Looking at West Alabama, they were 7-4 last year and didn’t lose a game by more than four points,” Jones said.  “They are a very talented team.  Fourteen of their 22 starters are junior college transfers.  They have some experience and brought in some very talented guys.  And they are very well-coached.

“When you play schools like that they tend to have some very good players, so we look for a good game out of West Alabama.”

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).

—USA—