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University of South Alabama Athletics

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#OURCITY
Kentrel Bullock
38
Winner South Alabama USA 2-6 , 1-3
31
Georgia St. GSU 1-7 , 0-4
Winner
South Alabama USA
2-6 , 1-3
38
Final
31
Georgia St. GSU
1-7 , 0-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
USA South Alabama 21 7 0 10 38
GSU Georgia St. 14 0 3 14 31

Game Recap: Football |

Jags Start Fast, Finish Strong in 38-31 Win at Georgia State

ATLANTA – South Alabama Football got off to a red-hot start in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead, then made critical plays in the fourth quarter to regain its lead and snap a six-game losing streak with a 38-31 victory over Georgia State at Center Parc Stadium Thursday night.
 
The victory improved South's record to 2-6 on the season and 1-3 in Sun Belt Conference play.
 
KEY MOMENTS
  • South Alabama's defense forced a three-and-out on Georgia State's first possession of the game, then strung together a 10-play, 53-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Bishop Davenport to Brendan Jenkins.
  • The Panthers tied the game at 7-7 with a 70-yard touchdown pass on their next possession, but the Jaguars topped it when Davenport hit Jeremy Scott for a 74-yard touchdown strike to give the Jags a 14-7 lead.
  • Back-and-forth first quarter action continued when GSU tied the game at 14 apiece on a 52-yard touchdown pass. South answered with a four-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to go back on top, 21-14. Kentrel Bullock capped the drive with a six-yard rushing score.
  • USA's defense warmed up to start the second quarter by forcing a punt, and the offense stayed hot with a methodical 14-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Davenport rushing touchdown on a three-yard QB keeper to make the score 28-14. That score would hold until halftime.
  • Georgia State scored 17-straight points to open the second half and take a 31-28 lead, but Davis Little connected on a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 31-31 with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • On the third play after the ensuing kickoff, Tirrell Johnson forced a fumble that was recovered by Jayvon Henderson to give the ball back to the South Alabama offense. The Jaguars fed Bullock six-straight times, and he cashed in from four yards out to give the Jags a 38-31 lead.
  • The Panthers would get one more possession, but Johnson made another huge play on defense by coming up with the game-clinching interception which allowed South's offense to take a knee and close the game. 
KEY STATS
  • Davenport threw for a career-high 280 yards in the winning effort.
  • The South Alabama offense finished the game with a season-high 468 yards of total offense
  • South finished the game plus-two in turnover margin with two defensive takeaways and no turnovers on offense
  • The USA offense went 8-of-14 on third down conversions and a perfect 2-for-2 on fourth down conversion attempts
  • Jaguar defenders combined to break up seven passes on the night
NOTABLE
  • Jenkins' touchdown reception in the first quarter was his first in a South Alabama uniform. He scored six touchdowns in two seasons at Samford prior to transferring to South.
  • Scott's 74-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his second touchdown catch of the season. It also became the longest offensive play of the season for South Alabama.
  • Bullock's rushing touchdown in the first quarter was the 18th of his career and moved him into a tie for fourth-most in program history.
  • Safety Wesley Miller set a new career high with 11 tackles on the night.
  • Johnson also set a career high in tackles with 10 to go with his interception and forced fumble
  • Scott recorded his first-career, 100-yard receiving game, finishing the night with 121 yards.
  • Little's field goal in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 31-31 was the first make of his collegiate career.
QUOTABLE
 
"Huge. It's not one of these program type of wins, but it's huge for the players and just their state of mind. I've been part of some teams where you take some haymakers. You lose by 28 or 35 or 42. We have not lost those kind of ball games. We've fought, we've played physical, we've played hard. We haven't always played well, but it just felt great for the guys. They needed this. We all needed this. We knew there would be a momentum swing in the second half. We didn't know it would get that close, but it was good to see them fight through and start to develop some competitive toughness."
 
-Major Applewhite
 
UP NEXT
 
South Alabama will celebrate homecoming on Saturday, Nov. 1 against Louisiana. The Jaguars and Ragin' Cajuns will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
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. 
 
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. 

 
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