MOBILE, Ala. – Is the University of South Alabama football team's series with Troy a rivalry?  That would depend on who one asks.

But with the Jaguars and Trojans set to meet Saturday for the first time at Troy's Veterans Memorial Stadium, it's clear that members of USA's program enter the match-up with clear respect for the opposition.

"We know Troy is one of those teams that are usually at the top of the Sun Belt [Conference].  That speaks volumes about their program, their coaches and the players they have," stated senior quarterback Ross Metheny.  "They have a tradition of being successful.  We want to be where Troy is, and in order to do that, we need to take that next step.  We have the ability to do that this weekend.  We know it will be a challenge, but we're excited for the challenge."

For Jag head coach Joey Jones, the opponent at this point — whether a perceived rival or not — does not matter.  "What our guys have taken on this year is focusing on what we need to do," he commented.  "We're not worried about the other team anymore, even though we have to prepare for them.  We're worried about what we do, and I think that has made us a much better team.  We've worked on things like being one in practice, and our offense, defense and special teams are on the same page right now.  We're all working toward the same goal, and that's what we're focusing on.

"Troy is our next conference game, and that is important for us and to our goals.  We want to get in a bowl game and win a conference championship, and that's where we are.  That's why we are going to work hard this week and do the things we need to do to get prepared for Troy."

Although both teams enter the game — slated to start at noon and air regionally on CSS (local cable channel 37) as part of the Sun Belt Network package — coming off a loss, the Jaguars have the advantage of already claiming a league victory.  Two weeks prior to their most recent outings, which saw USA fall 31-24 at Tennessee and the Trojans by a 38-31 margin at Duke, the Jags opened SBC play with a seven-point win over Western Kentucky while Troy lost by a touchdown at Arkansas State.

Led by Metheny, who is averaging nearly 250 yards of total offense per contest while completing over 60 percent of his pass attempts, USA (3-2 overall) is averaging 401.5 yards and 29.2 points per outing, ranking in the top half of the league in both categories.  Four Jaguar receivers have caught 10 or more passes through the first month of the season, paced by Jeremé Jones with 17 for 170 yards.  Shavarez Smith and Wes Saxton have totaled 264 and 225 yards, respectively, receiving — both are among the top 10 in the SBC in per-game average — while Danny Woodson II has added 13 receptions for 168 yards after leading the team with a career-high five last time out at Tennessee.

In addition to throwing for 829 yards, Metheny has gained 166 on the ground, running for more than five yards per carry while scoring five touchdowns in the last three games.  Jay Jones tops the squad with 241 yards on a team-high 41 carries, and Cris Dinham has chipped in with 104 yards after posting a career-best 33 to go along with his first career touchdown last time out against the Volunteers.

But USA will be facing a Trojan offense putting up even bigger numbers; Troy (2-3 overall) comes into the game leading the Sun Belt with 468 yards per game and is second scoring 34.4 points on average.  Senior Corey Robinson has completed 127-of-172 (73.8%) attempts for 1,329 yards and 10 scores, topping the conference in yards per game while standing second in passing efficiency.  Eric Thomas is in the top five in the SBC with both 26 receptions and 351 yards, and his seven touchdowns are the second-highest total in the league.  Bryan Holmes has supplied 21 catches for 294 yards, with Brandon Burks (19-114), Chandler Worthy (13-177) and Jordan Chunn (12-57) also posting double-figure reception totals.

Deon Anthony leads the team with 249 rushing yards, while Burks has gained 203 yards on the ground and Chunn 169.

"Troy's always had a pretty good offense," Terrell Brigham, a junior safety, explained.  "They air the ball out and have some pretty good receivers and a lot returners on offense.  We have to do what coach says, play for 60 minutes and execute, and hopefully things will work out."

USA's defense is one of three in the conference giving up less than 400 yards per game, ranking second against the run (150.5 ypg) and third against the pass (249 ypg).  The Trojans, on the other hand, stand sixth allowing just under 440 yards per outing which includes 284.6 yards per contest through the air.

Enrique Williams paced the Jags with eight stops last time out, raising his team-leading total to 34 for the season.  Qudarius Ford ranks second on the team with 32 tackles, and is tied for the league lead with six passes defensed after recording his first career interception in the second quarter of the UT game.  Romelle Jones and Alex Page both are among the top five in the conference with 4½ tackles behind the line of scrimmage — each has 15 total tackles on the year — while Maleki Harris has been credited with 18 stops, including 2½ for loss, two passes broken up, two quarterback hurries and has picked off a pass through five outings.

Twenty-seven of Camren Hudson's team-best 30 stops for Troy have been of the solo variety, while Chris Pickett has supplied 22 tackles and Mark Wilson 20.  Tyler Roberts paces the squad up front with 4½ tackles for loss including three sacks among his 19 stops, and Ethan Davis has recorded a team-high four passes defended.

But the Trojan defense has just three takeaways through five outings, as Troy is minus-seven in turnover margin, compared to the eight turnovers (seven interceptions, one fumble recovery) the Jags have forced in four contests.

USA's Aleem Sunanon leads the league's kickers with 7.8 points per game, having converted six field goals and all 13 extra-point attempts, while Will Scott of Troy has scored 33 total points — he has connected on four field goals and 21 PATs — to rank third with 6.6 points per contest.  The latter is also third with an average of 44.4 yards per punt, four spots ahead of Scott Garber in the SBC rankings; the Jaguars' punter is averaging 40.9 yards per kick for the year, and has posted an average of 42 yards or higher in each of the last three games.

Fans of both programs and those who follow college football in the state of Alabama can debate whether or not it's a rivalry when the Jaguars and Trojans meet on the field.  In the meantime, members of the USA program will concentrate their focus on the task at hand — winning the next game, regardless of who is lined up across from them on the field.

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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