MOBILE, Ala. – It's Homecoming week at the University of South Alabama, a time for celebration throughout campus.  The past four years, the Jaguar football team has done its part to contribute to the festivities with a victory in its Homecoming contest including last year's 37-34 come-from-behind, double-overtime win over Florida Atlantic, the program's first ever in Sun Belt Conference action.

USA won't face a league foe this year as part of the weekend celebration, instead taking on Kent State with kickoff at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday scheduled for 2 p.m. for the team's lone home game this month; the contest will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.  It will be the Jaguars' first home game in five weeks, having played twice on the road with two open weekends since defeating Western Kentucky, 31-24, in their league opener on Sept. 14.

It will be the second of a three-game agreement between the two schools, as the Jags will return to Kent on Sept. 6 next fall.  In the first match-up, the Golden Flashes scored the first 33 points in just over a half, then had to hold off a rally after USA responded with 25 unanswered points.

Both schools enter play having dropped their last two outings.  The Jaguars (2-3) fell at Tennessee by seven points and at Troy by one in the closing seconds prior to being off last weekend, while KSU (2-5) lost 38-24 to Northern Illinois — which is now 23rd in the national rankings — two weeks ago at home, then dropped a 27-24 decision at Ball State last time out.

In the game against the Trojans, the Jags set a school game record with 630 yards of total offense, including 471 — also a new program mark — through the air.  Ross Metheny completed 15-of-21 attempts for 236 yards while Brandon Bridge was 11-of-20 passing for 235 more, with both throwing a touchdown pass covering more than 50 yards in the final quarter.  The former ranks in the top 10 in the Sun Belt in pass efficiency rating, passing yards and total offense, entering play having completed 62.4 percent (78-of-125) of his passes for 1,065 yards and five scores.

Metheny also led the team on the ground at Troy with 55 yards on 10 carries, as he is second on the squad with 221 rushing yards while adding six touchdowns on the year.  Bridge carried 11 times for an additional 54 yards, while Jay Jones and Cris Dinham each reached the end zone for the second time this fall while combining to add 49 yards rushing.  Jones leads the team, standing sixth in the conference, with 279 yards through five contests.

Shavarez Smith and Wes Saxton both recorded a game-high-tying six receptions last time out, posting 106 and 95 yards, respectively.  Saxton is the team's leading receiver on the year with 21 catches for 320 yards, while Smith has a team-best 370 yards on 20 receptions.  Jeremé Jones has caught 20 balls for 254 yards, Danny Woodson II has supplied 229 yards on 16 catches and Bryant Lavender has nine receptions for 127 yards, with seven of those coming in the last two outings.

"Morale and confidence are high, because we know that we have the opportunity to win the game.  It's now more about concentrating on when we get in that situation and what we are going to do when we get in that situation," explained Lavender.  "We know we are a good football team.  We know that we are able to be in the game.  It's just about making the play that can get us the 'W'."

Maleki Harris shared game-high honors with nine stops against the Trojans — which included 1½ for loss — and he also had a fumble recovery to account for the lone turnover committed by either offense in the contest.  He now stands third on the team with 27 tackles, which matches his total from the previous two years combined.  Qudarius Ford paces USA with 38 stops and Enrique Williams has 37, ranking sixth and seventh, respectively, in the SBC, while Romelle Jones is among the top 10 with both 6½ tackles for loss and 4½ sacks.

The Jaguars, who enter play ranked third in the league against the run allowing 146.2 yards per game, will be facing a Golden Flash offense that averages 152.1 yards per outing on the ground while throwing for just 183.9 per contest.  Trayion Durham has rushed for 493 yards and three scores with Anthony Meray contributing another 117 on 29 carries.  Chris Humphrey is the team's leading receiver with 433 yards and three touchdowns on 36 catches, while Tyshon Goode has 23 receptions for 231 yards coming into the contest.

The KSU offense received a boost from the return of All-American Dri Archer — he has a team-high four touchdowns despite missing two games this fall — but might be without the services of Colin Reardon.  The latter has completed 120-of-202 passes for 1,199 yards and 10 scores, and he also ranks second on the squad with 222 rushing yards, but left the BSU contest in the fourth quarter due to injury.  If he cannot play, David Fisher (7-of-16, 88 yds) will quarterback the Golden Flash offense.

Luke Wollet paces the defense, which is allowing 466.1 yards per game overall, with 58 stops and two interceptions.  Jordan Italiano has contributed 46 tackles, Matt Dellinger 44 and Kennan Stalls 43, while Roosevelt Nix has been credited with seven stops behind the line of scrimmage among his 23 total tackles.

"They have the standout guys," commented Jaguar head coach Joey Jones.  "Everyone knows about Roosevelt Nix; he is a great player.  Dri Archer is an extremely fast guy; when he has the ball in his hands, you just kind of hold your breath — he is a good player.  They have a lot of good players.  They're offensive linemen are big, physical guys, as are the defensive linemen.

"They are just well-coached and know how to play the game.  We are going to have to play a really good game to beat these guys."

"We're just taking it week-by-week and not looking over anyone," added junior defensive lineman Jesse Kelley.  "Our opponent this week is Kent State and we're going to do whatever it takes to get the win versus Kent State.  And next week, we'll move on to the next opponent."

Homecoming activities begin on Friday night with a 6:30 p.m. parade that will march on USA Drive South and a pep rally at 7 p.m. at the Mitchell Center.  On Saturday, gates to the parking lot will open at 8 a.m. for tailgating festivities while ticket windows are slated to open at 9 a.m.  The team will take part in the Jaguar Prowl at 11:40 a.m. when it arrives on site, while stadium gates will be open to the public at noon.

Round-trip shuttle service, beginning at 10 a.m. and running continuously until 90 minutes after the end of the contest, will be available from the South parking lot at the Bel Air Mall to the stadium with the cost $2.50 per person.

Tickets — for as low as $10 — are available either on-line at www.tickets.southalabama.edu (there is no service charge for tickets purchased via the web) or at the Mitchell Center Ticket Office on campus from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.

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).

—USA—