MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama opened its 2026 season with a strong all-around effort, using an aggressive offense, timely takeaways, and a stout defensive performance to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, 39-14, Saturday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
KEY MOMENTS
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Bishop Davenport and Brendan Jenkins put the Jaguars on the scoreboard on the opening drive with a 26-yard touchdown connection. The five-play, 55-yard drive lasted just 1:33 and marked South Alabama's first opening-drive touchdown since 2023 against Southern Miss.
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South Alabama quickly regained possession when Damyrion Darby recorded his first career interception at the 11:31 mark of the first quarter. The Jaguars turned the takeaway into points, putting together an 11-play, 45-yard drive that took 5:24 off the clock and ended with a 35-yard field goal from Little.
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The Jaguar added two more points with a safety at the 4:59 mark of the opening quarter, South Alabama's first safety since recording one against ULM in 2024. The ensuing free kick went out of bounds, giving the Jaguars possession at midfield.
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South Alabama capitalized on the field position as Trae'von Dunbar punched it in from one yard out to complete an eight-play, 50-yard drive. The touchdown gave the Jaguars a 19-7 advantage and capped their third consecutive scoring possession to open the game.
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The defense came up big again in the second quarter after South Alabama was stopped on fourth-and-3. Southeastern Louisiana attempted a 47-yard field goal, but the kick hit the left upright and was no good.
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Jaylen Moson added another takeaway for the Jaguar defense with his first interception in a South Alabama uniform.
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Davenport scored South Alabama's first touchdown of the second half on a short run up the middle, capping a four-play, 12-yard drive that lasted 1:39 and extended the Jaguar advantage.
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PJ Martin put the finishing touches on the victory with his first touchdown of the season, scoring on a three-yard run. The touchdown capped a 14-play, 57-yard drive that drained 8:15 off the clock and produced the final margin of 39-14.
KEY STATS
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South Alabama held Southeastern Louisiana without a third-down conversion, limiting the Lions to an 0-for-7 mark.
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The Jaguars controlled the ball for a 37:48 which was a program record.
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South Alabama scored on each of its first three offensive possessions.
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The Jaguar defense forced two interceptions, including the first career pick for Darby and Moson's first as a Jaguar.
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The Jags didn't commit a turnover on the night, which is the first time since Southern Miss in 2025 since doing so.
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South Alabama recorded its first safety since 2024 against ULM.
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Little established multiple career highs in the kicking game, hitting four field goals, with a career-long 35-yard field goal, and 12 total points.
NOTABLE
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Saturday's victory marks just the eighth time in program history that South Alabama has opened a season 1-0.
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South Alabama scored a touchdown on its opening possession for the first time since 2023 against Southern Miss.
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Darby recorded the first interception of his collegiate career.
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Moson recorded his first interception as a Jaguar.
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Martin scored his first touchdown of the season.
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The Jaguars improved to 1-0 on the season.
QOUTABLE
South Alabama Head Coach Major Applewhite
Opening Statement:
"It's great to be back in Hancock Whitney. You practice about 90 times a year, and you only get to play 12 games, so it was special to be back — to start our season off at home, and start it off with a win. One of the pillars of our program, we talk about being 1-0, and these guys have done that throughout all of fall camp, and to get a chance to actually be 1-0 in the win-loss column is huge. To see them have fun and play together, and some of the complementary football that went on in different parts of the game. So, I was just really pleased with the way they played. I talked to them in there, whether we won or whether we lost tonight, there's still things that we've got to go clean up, and as coaches, we'll see those things tonight on film and explain to the guys in the morning, then just try to get a head start on Tulane tomorrow afternoon. ."
South Alabama Safety
Cole Blaylock
On the new defense getting its first opportunity:
"Yeah, no doubt. Dee Darby came out on the first drive with a big pick. I mean, that was a huge play. Moson, a transfer, made a huge play. I mean, I could go on and on about it, but I really liked the way we played aggressive and we took our shots even when we missed, and just covered each other up."
South Alabama Wide Receiver Brendan Jenkins
On the balance of the offense
"That was something we emphasized. We didn't want to be one-dimensional this year. We wanted to spread the wealth so defenses actually have to game plan for us. I feel like we did that tonight."
UP NEXT
South Alabama will hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to New Orleans to take Tulane on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. CT in Yullman Stadium.
FOLLOW THE JAGS
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