MOBILE, Ala. – Quarterback Gio Lopez set the South Alabama Football single-game records for passing yards and total offense, but the Jaguars fell short in the form of a 52-38 setback to North Texas Saturday night in the team's season opener at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
 
Lopez passed for 432 yards on the night and rushed for an additional 62 to get to 494 yards of total offense.
 
"I'm just disappointed in how we came out in the second half," said head coach Major Applewhite. "We had two three and outs and it slowed us down. After that, we had a big drive to get a touchdown, but then we dropped a snap and gave them seven points on special teams. We also had some personal fouls that extended some drives. We just lost our bearings to start the third quarter and against a team that continues to put up points like that when they're hot it's difficult to recover from."
 
Lopez's primary target on the night was receiver Jamaal Pritchett, who finished the game with 197 receiving yards and a touchdown. Those 197 yards were the second-most in a single game in program history. It marked a career high for the senior. While Lopez led the Jags in rushing, true freshman Fluff Bothwell recorded 30 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut. The receiving duo of Shamar Sandgren and Anthony Eager both recorded the first college receptions and touchdowns of their respective careers.
 
Defensively, the Jaguars were led by linebacker Blayne Myrick who set a career high with 12 total tackles. South also got nine takedowns from defensive back Jordan Scruggs in his South Alabama debut. Defensive lineman Wy'Kevious Thomas notched seven tackles on the night as well.
 
A big second quarter appeared to give USA momentum heading into the locker room at halftime. The Jaguars took a 19-14 advantage into the break after getting a big goal line stop to end the first half. The third quarter would prove to be detrimental for South, though, as the Mean Green outscored the Jaguars 28-7 in that 15-minute period. The Jags kept pushing in the fourth quarter with a pair of late touchdowns, but it was not enough as North Texas secured a two-touchdown victory.
 
UP NEXT
 
South Alabama will hit the road for the first time as it travels to Ohio to take on the Bobcats on Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff between the Jaguars and Bobcats is set for 5 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
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