NEW ORLEANS – After kicking three field goals, the last of which clinched the University of South Alabama's come-from-behind football victory at Bowling Green on Saturday, Diego Guajardo has been named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week it was announced Monday.
It's the first time a Jaguar placekicker has earned the honor since Aleem Sunanon did so on Sept. 21, 2015.
Guajardo — who hails from Spanish Fort, Ala. — was 3-of-3 on field goals and also converted his only extra-point attempt to account for nearly half of South's scoring in its 22-19 win over the Falcons. His first two field goals supplied the only points by either team in the second quarter, cutting the Jags' deficit to two at the break, but it was his kick from 44 yards out as time expired that lifted the Jaguars to their first come-from-behind win in nearly three years.
It was the fourth occasion since the start of last season that the sophomore has connected on multiple field goals, as he matched his previous high set in an Oct. 17 win over Texas State last fall.
It was the first time South has won in the final minute of regulation since Gavin Patterson hit a field goal with two seconds to go in an Oct. 29, 2016, victory over Georgia State, although the last time the Jags won on the final play of a game came on Oct. 20, 2012, when Michel Chapuseaux connected on a 35-yard field goal in double overtime against Florida Atlantic.
Guajardo and the Jaguars return to action with a 7 p.m. (CDT) kickoff at Hancock Whitney Stadium Saturday against Alcorn State.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
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