Game StatsPostgame QuotesPhoto GallerySAN DIEGO, Calif. – Xavier Johnson and Gerald Everett recorded over 100 yards rushing and receiving, respectively, to help lead the University of South Alabama football team to a 34-27 non-conference overtime victory over San Diego State Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium.
Johnson posted a career-best 142 yards on 19 carries, scoring twice after halftime, while Everett hauled in eight catches for 164 yards and a touchdown. Their efforts helped the Jaguars (2-1) outgain the Aztecs (1-2) by a 511-305 margin.
USA took a 24-20 lead — their first since a 3-0 advantage in the opening period — with just under six minutes remaining in regulation on a 57-yard touchdown pass from Cody Clements to Everett, but the Aztecs responded with an eight-play, 61-yard march to go back ahead by three when Donnell Pumphrey scored from eight yards out with just 2:05 left in the contest. Pumphrey accounted for 44 of those yards on the drive, with four carries for 18 and a pair of receptions for 26 more.
The Jaguars, however, moved the ball 42 yards — keyed by a 25-yard reception by Everett and an eight-yard completion to D.J. Vinson on fourth down — to set up a 46-yard Aleem Sunanon field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime.
The Jaguars scored first in the extra period, with Johnson crossing from two yards out one snap after a 15-yard completion from Clements to Everett, and when Maxwell Smith's pass on fourth-and-15 for Daniel Brunskill fell to the end zone turf USA claimed the victory. It was the program's first overtime game since defeating Florida Atlantic, 37-34, on Oct. 20, 2012.
"We challenged them all week long about fighting from start to finish, and I told them it was going to come down to a one-play game. Our guys never panicked," stated Jag head coach Joey Jones. "The guys kept fighting, and I didn't see any panic on the sideline. I'm proud of Aleem Sunanon coming in and kicking that field goal. I had no doubt at all that he was going to make it; he's a cool customer, just a guy who has ice in his veins.
"This is the biggest win by far in the program's history. San Diego State is a really good football program. They were picked in the top two to win this conference, and we came all the way out to California and beat a really good football team and coaching staff."
The Jags were trailing 17-3 late in the opening half when a turnover turned their fortunes. SDSU took over after a punt with 19 seconds left, but Devon Earl forced a fumble that was recovered by DeMarion Harper; on the next snap Clements hit Josh Magee down the right sideline for a 46-yard touchdown, drawing the Jaguars within a touchdown at the break. The play covered nine more yards than USA had recorded in the second quarter.
Johnson then tied the game on the second play of the second quarter, going down the left sideline for a 74-yard touchdown run — his second this season of more than 70 yards — with the Aztecs retaking the lead, 20-17, on a 54-yard field goal Donny Hagemen field goal with four-and-a-half minutes left in the third quarter.
"It meant everything to get this victory. We wanted this game really bad," Johnson said. "I just kept telling my team to calm down, that we were going to get one. If we got a stop, we were going to win the ballgame."
After the Jag defense forced a three-and-out to start the contest, USA put together a 14-play march that took six minutes and 40 seconds off the clock before Sunanon converted a 29-yard field goal — his 12th straight, tying a school record — for a 3-0 lead midway through the opening period. Clements completed his first three passes on the drive, hitting Kevin Kutchera and Danny Woodson II for first downs, while Johnson carried four times for 34 yards.
Clements finished the night 18-of-35 passing for 270 yards with two scores. In addition to Everett's performance, Kutchera, Magee and Vinson also posted two receptions.
"We had complete and total faith in what we were doing and that we were going to execute it," said Clements. "We just took it one play at a time."
Jeremy Reaves led the Jaguar defense with a career-high-tying 10 tackles, with one of those for loss, and he also broke up a pass. Earl forced a pair of fumbles in addition to posting six stops, with E.J. May and Bull Barge supplying six tackles each as well. Harper had two tackles for loss among his five stops — including a sack — and Blake Dees made five stops too.
"We knew that this team was going to come with a lot of firepower," observed Reaves. "Donnell Humphrey is an explosive back, so our key was just play fast and smart and get downhill to the ball."
"It's probably the most excited I have been after a football game, and one of the craziest games I have been a part of since I started playing football," added Roman Buchanan.
Hageman evened the score in the opening minutes of the second quarter with a 40-yard field goal to cap a 12-play Aztec drive keyed by a 35-yard run by Chase Price. A fumble on the ensuing kick return left the Jaguars with the ball on their one-yard line, and after Randy Ricks and Ryan Dunn combined to stop Clements inches shy of the first-down marker Lloyd Mills returned the punt that followed 41 yards to the USA-9. Two plays later, Mills gave SDSU its first lead when — falling to the ground while being tackled by Randy Allen — he connected with Smith in the flat for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
When the Aztec defense forced another punt, Mills ran it back 57 yards, and two plays later Smith found Mikah Holder for a 30-yard touchdown pass and a 17-3 lead midway through the quarter.
Pumphrey recorded 102 yards on the ground, but on 28 carries, and he added 55 yards on five receptions. Smith completed 12-of-26 attempts for 158 yards.
Damontae Kazee paced all players with 11 tackles, also breaking up two passes and forcing a fumble, with Na'im McGee and Malik Smith collecting 11 stops as well. Dunn was credited with 10 tackles, giving the Aztec defense four individuals in double digits in the category.
The Jaguars will conclude non-conference action with a 7 p.m. (CDT) contest against North Carolina State on Saturday, with the game televised nationally on ESPNEWS.
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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