Game #4
 
South Alabama (2-1, 0-0 SBC) vs. Central Michigan (2-1, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Kickoff: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Mobile, Ala. (Hancock Whitney Stadium)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network – WRKH (96.1 FM)
Social: @SouthAlabamaFB
 
NOTES & QUOTES

--Fresh off a huge win at Oklahoma State, South Alabama has been named the Cheez-It National Team of the Week. The Cheez-It National Team of the Week is presented each Monday during the college football regular season. Each week, the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association honors one outstanding team performance. It's the second time in program history South Alabama has earned the honor.

--The Jaguars' 33-7 win over Oklahoma State was the program's second all-time win over a Power Five opponent. The Jags previously knocked off Mississippi State of the SEC in 2016.

--South Alabama has scored on 100 percent of its red zone trips this season. The Jaguars have scored seven touchdowns and kicked two field goals from inside the 20-yard line. Six of the seven touchdowns have been rushing touchdowns.

"I'm very pleased with the way that we're trending in terms of the execution of our football team. We're playing with a lot more consistency than what we showed in the first week, particularly in the first half. Our first-two games we did not play particularly well in the first half on offense or defense. I thought we took a big step forward in terms of the preparation and the week of practice showing up early on gameday, and we need to continue that trend."
 
-Head Coach Kane Wommack on the direction of the team after a big win at Oklahoma State
 
"It was good to see us get off to a good start. We talked about that during the week, both sides of the ball, it was kind of a team focus. Didn't harp on it too much, but just made sure that everybody understood we wanted to start off with a good rhythm. Guys were focused. Pregame we could feel that in the locker room, there was just a quiet calmness. It was good to see."
 
-Offensive Coordinator Major Applewhite on the team's fast start at Oklahoma State
 
"We talked about it the last couple weeks, and we've been doing a much better job in practice just with our eye discipline, being on top of routes, leveraging routes the right way. Obviously the first week we didn't execute in those situations, second week got a lot better, and this week it showed."
 
-Corey Batoon on the defense's ability to limit explosive plays against Oklahoma State
 
ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
 
CMU enters Saturday's matchup with an overall record of 1-2. The Chippewas lost their season opener at Michigan State before returning home to defeat New Hampshire. Last week, the Chips fell to Notre Dame on the road. Central Michigan is coached by Jim McElwain who is in his fifth season as head coach. He has a career record of 69-51 and a record of 25-23 at CMU.
 
The Chips have played two quarterbacks so far this season. Bert Emmanuel Jr. leads the team in passing yards and touchdowns, but Jase Bauer got the start against Notre Dame. He threw for 137 yards in that game. Myles Bailey leads the rushing attack at CMU with 186 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Chris Parker has been the favorite receiving target for the Chippewas to date with five catches for 142 yards and a score. Defensively, Donte Kent and Kyle Moretti are the team's top tacklers with 26 and 25, respectively.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
The lone meeting between South Alabama and Central Michigan took place last season when the Jags visited Mount Pleasant and defeated the Chippewas, 38-24. USA owns an all-time record of 4-2 against opponents from the Mid-American Conference.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
South Alabama scored on its first drive of the game and never looked back as the Jaguars dismantled Oklahoma State, 33-7, Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium.
 
South controlled every aspect of Saturday's matchup, imposing its will on the Cowboys all night. The Jags owned a 395-208 advantage in total yards, including 243 yards on the ground while only allowing OSU 94 total rushing yards. USA also won the battle through the air, outpassing the Pokes 152-114. Oklahoma State could only manage 3.2 yards per play for the game while South Alabama nearly doubled that total with 6.3 yards per snap.
 
South Alabama's defense was stout for all four quarters, and provided key plays at key moments. With the Jags starting to build momentum early, Marquise Robinson came away with a key interception deep in Oklahoma State territory which set up a 17-yard La'Damian Webb touchdown on the very next play. Then, late in the game with Oklahoma State appearing to build some momentum of its own after its lone score of the night, Travis Drosos sprinted down the field on a Jaguar punt and recovered a muffed ball by the Cowboy returner. The Jaguar defense also got to the quarterback often throughout the matchup, earning four sacks and an additional five hurries.
 
Offensively, USA imposed its will on the line of scrimmage, averaging 5.2 yards per carry on the night. Webb carried the ball 18 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns. His big highlight came in the fourth quarter when a 65-yard touchdown run put the game on ice. Kentrel Bullock also carried the ball 18 times on the night, totaling 71 yards.
 
Quarterback Carter Bradley was very efficient in the passing game, completing 10-of-16 passing attempts for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Caullin Lacy was his favorite target, hauling in five completions for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Lacy scored the game's first touchdown in the first quarter on a 39-yard touchdown catch and run over the middle. He and Bradley then connected on a 59-yard deep ball right before half to send the Jags into the locker room up 23-0.
 
James Miller led the Jaguars in tackles on the night with seven, while Jaden Voisin was right behind with six. Oklahoma native Trey Kiser pitched in five tackles while wearing the number five jersey for USA. Defensive lineman Brock Higdon was a disruptor all game long, finishing the night with two sacks and a quarterback hurry.
 
Special teams also played a huge role in South Alabama's victory, as the Jags made key plays in the third phase frequently on the night. Kicker Diego Guajardo scored the first points of the night on a 39-yard field goal, and hit again from 42 yards away to extend the USA lead after the Cowboys scored for the first and only time. Punter Jack Martin pinned three of five punts inside the OSU 20, including one inside the five-yard line. The Jags also earned Drosos' takeaway on a Martin punt.
 
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.