MOBILE, Ala. – For the University of South Alabama football team, Saturday's scenario is clear. Win, and the Jaguars are in.
In a bowl game, that is. Coming into the program's regular-season finale with a 5-6 overall mark, a defeat of New Mexico State would make USA eligible for postseason competition.
"This certainly is a do-or-die game for us as far as getting into a bowl game," said Jag head coach Joey Jones. "The plus side for us is that we do have that opportunity; there are a lot of teams right now that are out [of a bowl game]. You look at Notre Dame, UCLA, Oregon and Oregon State and you can go on down the list; all of those schools are out. South Alabama and UL Lafayette have a chance as they are the last two teams that can become bowl eligible. We have a great opportunity in front of us and getting to a bowl game was one of our goals coming into the season. We're excited about the fact that we have that chance and we need to play well this week in order to get into a bowl game."
The match-up with the Aggies — who enter the contest 3-8 overall, 2-5 in the Sun Belt Conference — is set for a noon (CST) kickoff at Ladd-Peebles Stadium and will be broadcast live on ESPN3. WRKH 96.1 FM and 99.5 The Jag are set to provide radio coverage locally, while the game can be heard anywhere for free via the iHeartRadio app.
Tickets are available, with the cost $10 for sideline seats and $5 for those in either end zone, by going online to www.usajaguars.com online or calling the USA Athletic Ticket Office at (251) 461-1USA (1872). Windows near Gates 1W and 3E at Ladd-Peebles Stadium will begin selling tickets on the day of the game at 9 a.m.
And, in celebration of Military Appreciation Day, all active members of the military with proper identification can receive one complimentary admission to the contest.
As part of the Toy Drive supported by the Volunteers of America, Trax Tires and Fox 10 TV, individuals dropping off an unopened toy at any Trax Tires location will receive a free ticket voucher good for up to two tickets for Saturday's game. Toys will also be accepted at guest services tents outside the stadium between Gates 2 and 3 on either the East or West side for two free tickets, and those who already have tickets to the contest may request two tickets to the Jaguar basketball doubleheader on Monday, Dec. 19 when the women play host to North Carolina State and the men face Spring Hill.
The stadium parking lot will be available for those interested in tailgating at 8 a.m. Saturday, and gates will open to the general public two hours prior to kickoff. The team's arrival on site, the "Jag Prowl," will begin in the Southeast corner of the stadium lot at 9:30 a.m., with "FanFest" activities including free food compliments of Sonny's BBQ and Raising Cane's and entertainment provided by iHeartRadio.
Shuttles will provide round-trip service from the Shoppes at Bel Air located behind J.C. Penney beginning at 8 a.m. until 90 minutes after the conclusion of play, with the cost $2.50 per person and children five and under able to ride for free.
The Jaguar offense comes into play having outgained the opposition in four straight outings and has averaged 472.3 yards per game as well as 6.41 per snap in the last three contests. Dallas Davis (172-of-297, 2,222 yds, 9 TDs) set a school game record last time out with 374 yards of total offense at Idaho, including throwing for a career-best 320 yards and two scores. Gerald Everett (43-648, 4 TDs) and Josh Magee (40-533, 3 TDs) rank first and second on the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions entering their final regular-season appearances as Jaguars, while Kevin Kutchera (26-502, 1 TD) is first in the SBC with an average of 19.3 yards per catch and also among the top 10 in receiving yards per game along with Everett and Magee. Xavier Johnson (126-633, 7 TDs) is among the top five in the conference in rushing, having entered the top five in the school season record books after posting 83 yards last weekend, and Dami Ayoola (66-285, 4 TDs) contributed over 100 yards on the ground in USA's three outings in November.
The Aggies counter with an offensive unit that ranks third in the Sun Belt in yards per game (410.3) and is second in passing offense (257.2 ypg), but was held to just 240 yards by Appalachian State last weekend. One reason for NMSU's struggles in that contest was the absence of quarterback Tyler Rogers (220-of-394, 2,588 yds, 16 TDs) due to an injury suffered leading into the weekend; he leads the league in total offense and is second in passing yards per outing. The conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Larry Rose III (137-695, 2 TDs) leads the team in rushing but has missed three games this season, while the duo of OJ Clark (42-328, 1 TD) and Gregory Hogan (32-377, 3 TDs) have both posted more than 30 receptions and 300 yards receiving on the year.
"They are probably one of the best offenses in the league; they've done really well this season offensively and they score a lot of points. Two weeks ago they scored 50 on Texas State," explained Jones. "Their quarterback is a key component of their offense. Right now he's hurt, but I know that they will do everything they can to get him ready, so I expect him to play. Rose is a great running back and [Sun Belt Offensive] player of the year last year. They have a real effective offense."
South's defense has allowed less than 350 yards per game at home this fall, including 275 yards or fewer in each of its last two appearances — both wins, over Georgia State and Presbyterian — at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Darrell Songy (80 TT, 5½ TFL) and Roman Buchanan (75 TT, 8 TFL) rank first and second, respectively, on the squad in total tackles, and not only is Jeremy Reaves (70 TT, 4½ TFL) third in stops, but he is among the top 10 in the SBC with three interceptions and six other passes broken up. Jalen Thompson (28 TT, 2 TFL) tied Reeves for the team lead in interceptions after picking off a pair of passes at Idaho — he was chosen the conference's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday for the effort, which included a career-high 10 tackles — with fellow secondary members Devon Earl (60 TT, 3½ TFL) and Neiko Robinson (56 TT, 2 TFL) also among the top six on the team in stops. Randy Allen (58 TT, 14 TFL, 8 sacks) continues to rank among the nation's leaders in both tackles for loss and sacks.
NMSU has two of the top three tacklers in the league in Rodney Butler (150 TT, 8 TFL) and Dalton Herrington (98 TT, 4 TFL), while Jaden Wright (77 TT, 2½ TFL) is among the top five in the SBC with four interceptions. Terrill Hanks (91 TT, 11½ TFL) is not just third on the team in stops, he is in the conference's top 10 in tackles behind the line of scrimmage. After surrendering 604 yards to the Mountaineers, the Aggies are giving up 494.5 yards and 39.2 points per contest.
Prior to the game, the Jaguars will honor 23 seniors in a ceremony on the field. Jones recognizes that one of the group's preseason goals is still attainable. "The biggest thing that the guys have to understand, and I've talked to the seniors about this, is they want to go out and change this program for the better — which was a goal of theirs at the beginning of the year — and win a bowl game, which is still an achievable goal. That's something that they can achieve which no one else here has done," he said. "To be able to get to a bowl game and win it would definitely be a feather in this senior class' cap if they were to be able to make that happen. I think the rest of the guys on this team want to make that happen for them."
While the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision postseason doesn't officially begin until Saturday, Dec. 17, South Alabama finds itself looking at a playoff scenario heading into the regular-season finale. For the Jaguars to advance, they will need nothing short of a win.
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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