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MOBILE, Ala. – Darrell Songy posted 13 tackles and Xavier Johnson ran for 116 yards and a score, helping the University of South Alabama to a 31-7 non-conference football victory over Presbyterian Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Songy fell one stop shy of equalling his previous career high, helping the Jaguars (5-5) limit the Blue Hose (2-9) to just 275 total yards, including only 78 through the air, while Johnson's performance was part of an effort that saw USA record a season-best 251 yards on the ground.

Ben Cheek carried 21 times for 128 yards but was only 11-of-24 passing in leading the PC offense, with the trio of Robert Baker, Grant Beidel and Nick Moss posting eight tackles apiece for the Blue Hose defense.

The Jaguars will close out the regular season with a pair of Sun Belt Conference contests, with the first next week kicking off at 2:30 p.m. (CST) at Idaho in the program's final road game of the year.

"I think it was a good win; a win is always a good win," said Jag head coach Joey Jones.  "I told the players that I wasn't especially pleased with how we played overall.  I thought we played good enough to win, but that's not good enough.  We have to play better on both sides of the ball.  I don't feel that we played at the highest level that we could have and that's on me.  I promise you that next week that will be changed; we have to practice better and be ready to play.  We did some good things, but not to the level that we needed to."

The Blue Hose received the opening kickoff, then took nearly seven minutes off the clock with a 14-play march down the field, but a 30-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left as the game remained scoreless.  Instead, the Jags went ahead 7-0 when Johnson scored on a 70-yard run — his longest of the season — on USA's third play from scrimmage.

"Xavier is big guy for us and he's done that for us all year long.  When you have him in the game, you have a chance to score from long distance," Jones said.  "He's just one of those guys you need in the game that can make a big play for you.  That was a big play early in the game."

"I just have to give thanks to my offensive line; they executed and made a big hole for me," Johnson stated.  "I just did what I do, and that's break it and score."

Brandon McKee pinned PC on its own one-yard line with a 57-yard punt late in the opening period, and after a three-and-out South took over on the Blue Hose 42-yard line. Tyreis Thomas began the possession with runs for 10 and nine yards, and after a 21-yard completion from Cole Garvin to Maaseiah Francis moved the ball to the PC-2 Thomas doubled the Jaguar advantage less than minute into the second quarter.

The next time the Jags got the ball back they started at their own five-yard line, but the end result would be the same as Dami Ayoola extended the USA lead to 21-0 with just over a minute to go in the first half.  Garvin gained one first down with an eight-yard pass to Sa'Mory Collier, and Johnson added another with a five-yard run before Garvin found Josh Magee for a pickup of 43 yards to move the Jaguars into PC territory.  Facing fourth-and-two from the PC-18, Garvin connected with Francis for a 10-yard completion to keep the drive alive, with Ayoola crossing the goal line two plays later.

Ayoola recorded 45 yards on seven attempts, Thomas finished with 25 yards, Milton Revell had 24 and Deonta Moore 23.

Gavin Patterson added a 30-yard field goal four minutes into the final period, completing a nine-play march by the USA offense that included Garvin finding Magee for 17 yards and Revell for 11 more, pushing the Jag lead to 24-7, while Jalen Thompson intercepted a pass on the Blue Hose's ensuing possession and returned it 30 yards for a score — the first pick run back for a touchdown by a Jag since Montell Garner accomplished the feat at Idaho in 2014 — to make the score 31-7 a minute-and-a-half later.

Garvin was 15-of-28 passing for 167 yards, with Francis catching a career-high five passes for 36 yards.  Magee paced all players with 69 yards on four receptions, Tyrone Williams had a pair of catches and Garvin found four other individuals once each.

The Blue Hose avoided the shutout with a score from its defense.  A 31-yard completion from Garvin to Williams put South at the PC-44, and the Jags converted on another third down but on their next snap — another Garvin completion — Ryan Brown forced a fumble that Rock Ya-Sin recovered and returned 61 yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.

Kyle Goddard and Joseph Purter posted three catches each for PC, with DarQuez Watson hauling in a pair of passes as well.  Zola Davis rushed for 26 yards, but the Blue Hose's ;eading rusher coming into play finished with only 24 yards on 15 carries.

"We played a good game and didn't allow any points," Songy explained.  "There is a standard that is set, and there were a lot of plays out there — just minor things that can take us from having a good performance to a great performance.  We just have to get to the next level."

Roman Buchanan collected six stops for the Jags, with Zach Befort and Neiko Robinson recording five tackles each.  Thompson had three stops to go along with his interception, Finessé Middleton was credited with three stops behind the line and Bull Barge had one tackle for loss among his three total while also forcing a fumble.

It's the first time since USA began competing in the Sun Belt that the Jaguars have won all four non-conference contests in a 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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