Game #8
South Alabama (4-3, 2-1 SBC) vs. Louisiana (4-3, 1-2 SBC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 28
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala. (Hancock Whitney Stadium)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network – WRKH (96.1 FM)
Social:
@SouthAlabamaFB
Tickets:
USAJaguars.com/tickets
NOTES & QUOTES
–Running back
La'Damian Webb and wide receiver have combined to be quite the one-two punch for South Alabama's offense. Webb has rushed for 12 touchdowns on the season, which ranks second in all of college football. Lacy's 826 receiving yards are third in the nation.
–The Jaguars' 52-point margin of victory over Southern Miss was the largest over an FBS opponent in school history. The Jags have now scored 55 points in back-to-back games with a 55-7 win over ULM and a 55-3 victory over Southern Miss.
–South Alabama set a new school record for total offense in the team's win over Southern Miss with a total of 647 yards.
"I think our guys are ready. It's an exciting week. Exciting to have Louisiana here at home inside Hancock Whitney Stadium. Exciting to have Joey Jones back this week. Very fitting that he is the very first ever hall of fame inductee for football."
-Head Coach
Kane Wommack on a big weekend coming up
"Guys are playing well and executing. We're getting ready to get to this last half of the season with different opponents. Lafayette is a great defense. We've kind of moved on in terms of just where our focus needs to be in terms of the opponents we're paying in the second half of the season."
-Offensive Coordinator
Major Applewhite on the current state of the offense
"The biggest thing is the consistency. Earlier in the season we had some good games, in particular the Oklahoma State game, and then it was kind of a roller coaster. I think the last two games kind of shows what we can do in regards to doing your job."
-Defensive Coordinator
Corey Batoon on two big defensive performances in a row
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns enter Saturday's matchup with an identical 4-3 record to South Alabama, but a 1-2 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. Louisiana fell to Georgia State, 20-17, in its most recent contest. The Cajuns are coached by Michael Desormeaux, who owns a career record of 11-10 at his alma mater.
Zeon Chriss plays quarterback for Louisiana and has thrown for 906 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Three of his receivers have over 200 yards on the year with Robert Williams leading the way on 289 yards and three touchdowns. Jacob Kibodi is the team's leading rusher with 466 yards and five touchdowns, but Chriss is right behind with 446 yards and five touchdowns of his own. K.C. Ossai is the top tackler for the Cajun defense with 49 total, including two for loss and a sack.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisiana owns a lead of 8-3 in the all-time series between the Jaguars and Ragin' Cajuns. South Alabama won last year's matchup 20-17 on a walk-off field goal courtesy of
Diego Guajardo.
LAST TIME OUT
South Alabama scored on its opening drive and never looked back as the Jaguars dismantled Southern Miss, 55-3, in a record-setting victory Tuesday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
South Alabama was dominant in every facet of the game, outgaining the Golden Eagles 647-149 on the night. The Jags threw for 360 yards throughout the contest while grinding out 287 yards on the ground. South converted on 7-of-11 third downs while holding USM to just 1-of-13, and recorded two takeaways to one for Southern Miss. The Jags also stayed perfect in the red zone on the season, converting all seven of their trips inside the Southern Miss 20-yard line.
La'Damian Webb had a monster game for USA, rushing for 102 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries. His four rushing touchdowns tied the school record which he set last season at Georgia Southern. It also marked the sixth-straight game with a rushing touchdown for Webb. Joining Webb in the record-setting rushing effort was
Kentrel Bullock with a 17-yard touchdown, freshman quarterback
Gio Lopez who scored his first-career rushing touchdown, and
Dorian Smith who scored his first-career touchdown on his first-career carry.
Although the Jags did not find the end zone via the passing game,
Carter Bradley still threw for 319 yards on a 21-of-27 clip. He became the first quarterback in South Alabama history to throw for 300 yards or more in five games. Bradley's top targets on the night were
Caullin Lacy and
Jamaal Pritchett. Lacy extended his streak of 100-yard receiving games to six, and Pritchett recorded a career-best 122 yards.
On defense,
Khalil Jacobs led the team with seven total tackles, including three for loss. Jacobs also forced a fumble on the night.
Jamall Hickbottom recorded both a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and
James Miller added six tackles, including one for loss. In the defensive backfield,
Ricky Fletcher was a menace all night with four of the team's five pass breakups.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
For complete coverage of South Alabama football, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaFB (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaFB (Facebook), @SouthAlabamaFB (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.
