TROY, Ala. – South Alabama made key plays late in the game on offense and defense to come back and force overtime, but could not get the stops or scores it needed in the extra period to hold on as the Jaguars fell to Troy, 31-24, Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Jags fell to 1-5 on the season with an 0-2 record in Sun Belt Conference play.
 
KEY MOMENTS

• After Troy took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive, the Jaguars responded by scoring on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Bishop Davenport to Micah Woods to even the score at seven apiece
• With the Trojans threatening to score again early, Nehemiah Chandler intercepted a pass in the end zone to force a takeaway and keep Troy from scoring.
• Troy took a 14-7 lead into the locker room at halftime and then got the ball again to open the second half, but Dominic Wiseman forced a fumble that Christopher Wallace Jr. jumped on to force South's second takeaway of the night.
• After recovering the fumble, the Jags added three points via a 40-yard field goal from Hamilton DiBoyan to pull within four, with the Trojans still leading 14-10.
• Davenport took off for a 56-yard touchdown run with just over seven minutes to play in the third quarter to give South Alabama a 17-14 lead.
• Troy scored the next-10 points to go up 24-17, but the Jags orchestrated a two-minute drive to tie the game and send it to overtime. Davenport hit Kentrel Bullock on a 15-yard swing pass for a touchdown to force the extra period.
• The Trojans scored on their opening possession of overtime, then stopped the Jags on fourth down to seal the 31-24 victory.

 KEY STATS

• Troy outgained South 420-369 on the night. South Alabama won the rushing battle 265-217, but could not get an efficient passing attacking going as Troy threw for 203 yards to USA's 104.
• Penalties haunted the Jaguars on the night as they committed seven for 45 yards compared to three for 15 yards for Troy.
• Despite the loss, the Jaguars were able to win the turnover battle 2-0.

NOTABLE

• Woods touchdown in the first quarter was the first of his career. It was just the second-ever reception of his career in a South Alabama uniform.
• Nehemiah Chandler's interception in the second quarter was the first of his USA career and South's first as a team since the season opener against Morgan State.
• Davenport's 56-yard touchdown was South's second-longest play of the season and its longest rushing play of the season. It also set a new career-high for Davenport's longest rush, beating his 52-yard touchdown run in the 2024 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.
• Davenport's rushing touchdown was his third of the season and the fourth of his career.
• Tirrell Johnson recorded eight solo tackles on the night to set a new career high.
• Saturday marked the first overtime game South Alabama has played since 2021.

QUOTABLE
 
"Ultimately disappointed. Disappointed in the way the game finished. When we got it into overtime, I thought we had an opportunity there. I thought our defense did an outstanding job all night. Had a few explosives, one before half that was costly, it was a big momentum swing. But for the most part played well. Got them off the field and got two takeaways. We've got to do a better job as an offense capitalizing on those takeaways."
 
-Major Applewhite's takeaways after a hard-fought rivalry game
 
UP NEXT
 
South Alabama will return home for a Tuesday night contest against Arkansas State on Oct. 14. Kickoff against the Red Wolves is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
 
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