MOBILE, Ala. – The test for the University of South Alabama football program last week was to see if it could bounce back from the first loss of the season.  The Jaguars responded with a 34-27 overtime victory at San Diego State, coming back from a 17-3 deficit in the process, as an answer to the challenge.

This week's exam?  To detect if USA will be caught up in last weekend's success — which Jag head coach Joey Jones called "the biggest win by far in the program's history" afterward — when an undefeated opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference visits Mobile.

In its final regular-season non-conference match-up, South Alabama — now 2-1 on the season — will play host to 3-0 North Carolina State Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. (CDT).  The contest will be televised nationally on ESPNEWS as well as available worldwide for free via the iHeartRadio app.

"As soon as I got here Sunday morning it was all about N.C. State," Jones stated at the team's weekly press conference on Monday.  "It was a big win for our program and everybody involved, and I was happy that we went on the road and beat a quality opponent in San Diego State, but we have to move on to the next game like we always do."

The Jag defense allowed a season-low 305 yards last time out, highlighted by the performance of sophomore defensive back Jeremy Reaves; he was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week after recording 10 stops, including one for loss, and breaking up a pass against the Aztecs.  He leads the squad entering play with 25 total tackles and three stops behind the line of scrimmage, with Roman Buchanan and Blake Dees both credited with 24 through three outings.

Devon Earl has posted 19 tackles, forcing a pair of fumbles in the SDSU game including one that led to the only turnover of the night as well as a Jaguar touchdown in the waning seconds of the opening half.  DeMarion Harper has contributed 17 stops — sharing team-high honors with three for loss — Demarius Rancifer has added 15 and both Kalen Jackson and Bull Barge have been credited with 14 for a unit that is allowing just over 390 yards per contest.

USA will be taking on a Wolfpack unit that is averaging 235 yards per game rushing and more than 440 total while averaging better than 40 points per outing, coming into play among the top 25 in the nation in rushing and scoring offense.  Matthew Dayes has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the team's first three contests, scoring six touchdowns in all, while Jacoby Brissett has completed 56-of-72 (77.8 percent) of his passes for 591 yards and four scores.  Jaylen Samuels and Jumichael Ramos pace the team with 15 and 13 catches, respectively, with the former also reaching the end zone six times thus far.

"You look at the first three games and those defenses haven't slowed them down much," Jones said of the NCSU offense.  "We have all the special teams cut ups and there aren't many punts on there, so that shows you they are doing extremely well on offense.  They have athletic linemen and a really good running back, and their quarterback is an accurate thrower so it will be a challenge for our defense because they can do both."

The Jaguars rolled up a season-high 511 yards in San Diego, with 351 of those coming in the second half and overtime.  Gerald Everett hauled in 164 yards receiving on eight catches while Xavier Johnson supplied 142 on 19 carries, with the duo combining to score three times after the intermission to key the comeback.  For the year, Johnson has gained 291 yards with an average of nearly nine yards per carry, while Everett leads the squad with 15 receptions for 278 yards.

Josh Magee has added 210 yards and a pair of scores on just nine catches, while Tyreis Thomas has rushed for 119 yards as well.  Cody Clements has thrown for 725 yards and four touchdowns in directing the unit to more than 415 yards and 25 points per contest.

Awaiting the Jags will be a N.C. State defense that is second overall (188.3 yards per game), fifth against the run (51.0 ypg) and eighth in points allowed (11.7 ppg) in the country.  B.J. Hill has 13 stops — with 3½ behind the line — while Bradley Chubb and Josh Jones have both contributed 11 tackles and Mike Rose 10.  While the unit has recorded just two takeaways, it is third nationally allowing the opposition to convert just 18.2 percent on third down.

The Jaguars had a second weekly award winner on Monday, with placekicker Aleem Sunanon earning SBC Special Teams Student-Athlete-of-the-Week honors for the second time in 2015; he's 5-of-6 on his field-goal attempts this fall.  NCSU's special teams are highlighted by Nyheim Hines and Bra'Lon Cherry, who are averaging 26.2 and 20.1 yards per kick and punt return, respectively.

This is the third time that USA will meet the Wolfpack, with N.C. State winning both previous match-ups in Raleigh.  NCSU's 35-13 victory in 2011 was the first defeat suffered by the Jaguars, with the Wolfpack earning a 31-7 win the following fall.

Tickets still remain available for the game, and can be purchased on-line at tickets.southalabama.edu, via phone by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872) or by visiting the Mitchell Center Box Office in person between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Friday.  The cost is $30 for sideline tickets and $20 for end zone seats.

Gates at Ladd-Peebles Stadium will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday, although access to the parking lot will be available at 8 a.m. for those interested in tailgating; fans will be permitted to bring a soft-sided cooler with up to two bottles of water into the stadium as well as reasonably sized chair backs.  USA's arrival on site, the "Jag Prowl," will run through the tailgating area outside the South end zone beginning at 4:45 p.m. 

Starting at 3 p.m., round-trip shuttles will be available at the Shoppes of Bel Air Mall located behind J.C. Penney.  The cost is $2.50 per person with children five years old and younger able to ride for free, with service provided until 90 minutes after the end of the game.

Regardless of the outcome on Saturday, South Alabama will know that it has been tested as it prepares for Sun Belt Conference action in the coming weeks.  But to pass another exam would earn the Jaguars high marks on their performance in non-league action the opening month of the season.

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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