https://youtu.be/njxzMhv6XIU
Coaches tend to downplay the weather. “It effects both teams”, “Can’t let it change your plans”. Usually, a lot of Yada Yada Yada = Coach Speak.
But that wasn’t the case for the South Alabama Jaguars last Saturday against the Arkansas State Red Wolves. With rain imminent, the Jaguars decided if they won the coin toss, they would take the ball instead of their usual deferring until the 2nd Half.
Good decision.
It didn’t take long for the Jaguars to rinse out the bad taste in the their mouth from the 10-6 loss to Troy. Running Back La’Damian Webb ran for 69 yards on the first play from scrimmage, eventually scoring a touchdown, giving the Jaguars a 7-0 less than 2 1/2 minutes into the game.
Three possessions later Carter Bradley hit Jalen Wayne in the numbers for a 49 yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead.
The rains came and slowed the offenses down, but not the South Alabama defense. Final stats gave the Red Wolves -19 yards rushing and Arkansas State’s QB James Blackmon was sacked 4 times.
South Alabama capped the game off with an 11-play, all-running, all 11 plays to Webb, who scored 3 times on the day. The Jaguars finished the day with a relatively easy 31-3 win.
This Saturday won’t be as easy against Georgia Southern.
The Eagles are 2nd in the Sun Belt, scoring almost 37 points per game. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease leads the conference in passing yards, 2,704 and is 3rd in touchdowns with 18.
There are couple of BUTs. Big BUTs.
Vantrease also leads the Sun Belt with 18 interceptions. And Georgia Southern’s rushing defense is basically non-existent. The Eagles allow a league high 210.8 yards. That ranks 125th out of 131 NCAA College Football Teams.
Let’s put that into a little perspective. South Alabama allows 211 passing yards per game.
If South Alabama doesn’t have any turnovers and can get a couple of stops, they allow 17.6 ppg, they should, and the key word being ’SHOULD’, come away with a win.
But with Georgia Southern’s explosive offensive, just don’t expect to be as easy as last weekend.
