MOBILE, Ala. | South Alabama football had all three phases clicking Saturday afternoon as the Jaguars opened the 2022 campaign with a 48-7 victory at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The Jaguars (1-0) put up 508 yards of total offense, including 332 through the air, while the defense held Nicholls (0-1) to 165 yards of total offense, 59 yards rushing and out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.

In his first game in a South Alabama uniform, quarterback Carter Bradley was 17-of-25 through the air for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while Jalen Wayne and La'Damian Webb each got into the end zone twice. Wayne nearly recorded a 100-yard game as he had 98 yards receiving on three catches, while Webb rushed for 98 yards on 18 carries in his Jaguar debut.

Quintin Wilfawn led the defense with seven stops, three solo and a half tackle for loss. Jaden Voisin chipped in with five tackles, a tackle for loss and was credited with a quarterback hurry. James Miller and Trey Kiser also had four tackles a piece. The defense also recorded a pair of turnovers.

Diego Guajardo was 6-for-6 on his PATs and knocked both his field goal attempts through the uprights, connecting from 48-yards and 39-yards out. Jack Brooks also had four points inside the 20-yard line and one of 58 yards.
 
Postgame Notes

• Captains: Keith Gallmon Jr., James Jackson and Wilfawn
• South Alabama improves to 4-0 in the all-time series versus Nicholls, while it was the first meeting between the two programs since 9/24/16, a 41-40 overtime victory
• The Jaguars are 6-3 in home season openers and have now won three of their last four
• USA is also now 9-5 all-time in season openers and have won three of its four 
• Attendance: 15,101, the highest mark at Hancock-Whitney Stadium since Georgia Southern (1/14/21)
• The 48 points are the most scored in a season opener since South put up 56 points in the 2010 opener against Pikeville [Ky.]
• It is also the most points scored by the Jags since posting 52 against Idaho (11/7) during the 2015 season
• The 41-point margin of victory was also the largest since a 45-0 victory over Alabama A&M back on September 16, 2017
• Caullin Lacy finished the night with 128 yards of total offense – six receptions for 72 yards and four punt returns for 56 yards with a long of 38.
• Freshman running back Braylon McReynolds' 18-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was the first of his career
• Nicholls didn't cross the 50-yard line until five minutes into the third quarter.
• The two touchdown receptions for Wayne marked the first multi-touchdown game of his career
• With his 52-yard touchdown reception, Wayne tied former Jag Wes Saxton (2012-14) for seventh on South's career receptions chart, and then took over sole possession of the spot with his second touchdown of the day in the third quarter
• Wayne is now three receptions away from recording 100 receptions for his career
• The four punts by Brooks inside the 20-yard line tied for the most in a game and was the ninth time to happen

How It Happened
First Quarter

• 7-0 (4:05) - Webb scores from 15-yards on a rush to the right side (6 plays, 80 yards, 2:48)
• 10-0 (1:54) - Guajardo, 39-yard field goal (4 plays, 3 yards, 1:29)

Second Quarter

• 17-0 (13:50) - Wayne hauls in a 52-yard touchdown pass from Carter Bradley (4 plays, 83 yards, 1:17)
• 24-0 (9:27) - Bradley scores from four yards out on a rush up the middle (1 play, 4 yards, 00:08)
• 27-0 (1:30) – Guajardo connects from 48 yards out (14 plays, 54 yards, 5:26)

Third Quarter

• 34-0 (6:58) – Wayne scores on a 37-yard pass from Bradley (4 plays, 66 yards, 1:17)
• 41-0 (3:52) – McReynolds hauls in an 18-yard pass from Bradley (5 plays, 60 yards, 2:07)

Fourth Quarter

• 41-7 (14:24) - Julien Gums scores on a 10-yard run (9 plays, 75 yards, 4:28)
• 48-7 (11:22) - Webb scores on a 2-yard run (7 plays, 77 yards, 2:56)

Up Next
South Alabama will head out on the road to take on Central Michigan on Saturday, September 10. Kickoff versus the Chippewas is set for noon (CT) at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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