MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Tuesday that the interception that ended the Jaguars’ double-overtime loss at Georgia State came on a designed play-action pass that broke down when two defenders came through unblocked and hit quarterback C.J. Bennett’s arm.
Jones and tight ends coach Bryant Vincent reviewed the game on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian at Baumhower’s on Airport Boulevard as South Alabama prepared to host Henderson State.
The Final Sequence
Facing second down from the 2-yard line in the second overtime, South Alabama called a play-action pass designed for Bennett to throw to an open receiver or throw the ball away. Jones said he expected questions about the call. He said two defenders came in unblocked and hit Bennett’s arm, causing the ball to flutter and be intercepted, even though receivers were open with one defender covering two of them.
Neither team scored in the first overtime. Jones said he felt good entering overtime after the Jaguars’ overtime win at UTSA earlier this season. Asked whether he would have gone for two had South Alabama scored in the second overtime, Jones said he would have kicked the extra point because he was confident the Jaguars would win, adding that teams that doubt they can win outright are more likely to go for two.
Late in the fourth quarter, Bennett threw an interception on a rushed play, but a dead-ball foul against South Alabama for having too few players on the field wiped out the play. Because the clock had stopped on the previous play, the Jaguars got another opportunity and capitalized.
Early Missed Opportunity
B.J. Scott opened the game with a long kickoff return, but South Alabama was stopped inside the 5-yard line. Jones said blocking problems on that series affected the game and gave Georgia State confidence that it could stop the Jaguars, who had been effective in the red zone.
Jones said he does not believe scoring first is a major advantage, saying a team must withstand an opponent’s early score and that opening the second half with a touchdown matters more in a close game.
Jones said Georgia State’s two long touchdown passes from Hill to Wilson were huge. He said that if either of those plays, or either of two tipped passes that were intercepted, had gone South Alabama’s way, the Jaguars would have won. He said South Alabama must avoid turnovers and stop big plays.
Jones noted that Bennett’s statistics do not look good but said only one of his interceptions was solely his responsibility, with the others coming on tipped passes or when his arm was hit. Jones said Myles Gibbon has worked hard and will play some this week, though not because of Bennett’s performance.
Offense Searching for Big Plays
Jones acknowledged the offense has sputtered this season, citing the loss of playmakers T.J. Glover and Courtney Smith. He said moving the ball five yards at a time is difficult to sustain without big plays. Receiver Greg Hollinger, slowed by preseason injuries, is becoming more involved each week.
Jones said the Jaguars do not have a direct-snap play for a receiver in their package but would like to try one, naming Jereme Jones or Ameriol Finley as candidates. Vincent said Finley, a former quarterback, had not played defense in two years but is progressing in his move to defensive back and contributing on special teams.
Jones named tight ends Paul Bennett and Kevin Helms the offensive standouts for their blocking and receiving, and defensive lineman Romelle Jones the defensive standout. Vincent said both tight ends are primarily blockers but can catch the ball, and that offensive coordinator Greg Gregory has found ways to get them open in the flat. He said the offense is taking what defenses give it.
Jones said he is concerned that the team may be playing emotionally to the level of its opponents, and the staff must know when to fire players up and when to calm them down. At halftime, he said, offensive and defensive coaches meet separately, then address their full units before breaking into position groups.
Scott Injured
Scott, who had about 180 kickoff return yards against Georgia State, hurt his knee when it struck the turf late in the game. Jones said Scott is undergoing an MRI and it does not look promising that he will play against Henderson State.
Vincent and Local Recruiting
Vincent said he and Jones coached against each other in the Birmingham area when Vincent was at Spain Park and Jones at Mountain Brook. Vincent coached at Spanish Fort High School last season and took over the tight ends when assistant coach Mitch Rodrigue left the staff. Vincent and Jones said their high school head coaching experience helps them build relationships with high school coaches rather than simply asking for their best players.
Jones said South Alabama has strong relationships with coaches in Mobile and Baldwin County and starts its recruiting locally before working outward.
Jones said the Jaguars must prepare for two Henderson State quarterbacks because the starter’s status is uncertain, but noted the two have similar styles, unlike Georgia State’s quarterbacks.
Update: Game Recap and Statistics
Georgia State won the game 27-20 in double overtime, ending a five-game losing streak for the Panthers. It was South Alabama’s third loss of the season and the first in program history to an FCS opponent.
After the game, Jones congratulated the Panthers. “My congratulations to their team. I thought they came out and played hard. They were hungry for another win, and they played with a lot of effort,” he said. “It came down to the end and one or two plays, and they won it — they made a play at the end and we didn’t.”
“But I am so proud of our guys for fighting back,” Jones said. “That was an unbelievable drive at the end of regulation to even get a chance to go into overtime. That’s admirable — great heart.”
The Tying Drive
South Alabama’s final drive of regulation began at its own 46 after a 45-yard kickoff return by B.J. Scott. After a holding penalty wiped out a completion, Bennett ran for 9 yards on second-and-17 and then hit Jereme Jones for 16 yards on third-and-8. Following a timeout with 2:11 left and two incompletions, Bennett converted fourth-and-9 from the Georgia State 35 with a 14-yard completion to Corey Besteda.
A false start pushed the Jaguars back to the 26. Bennett connected with Corey Waldon for 13 yards and with Jones for 4 more and a first down at the 8. A 4-yard catch by Lamontis Gardner moved the ball to the 4, and Bennett spiked the ball with 8 seconds left. A false start then moved South Alabama back to the 9, and on fourth-and-goal Bennett found Waldon in the end zone. Jordan Means’ extra point tied the game 20-20 with four seconds remaining.
Overtime
South Alabama had the ball first in the opening overtime and did not move it; Means missed a 44-yard field goal. Georgia State drove to the South Alabama 7, but Clifton Crews blocked the Panthers’ field-goal attempt to force a second overtime.
Georgia State scored first in the second period on three Donald Russell runs of 9, 8 and 8 yards. South Alabama answered with runs by Demetre Baker of 8, 1 and 2 yards, a 4-yard Bennett run and Baker carries of 7 and 1 yards, reaching second-and-goal at the 2 before the game-ending interception at the 1.
Statistics
- C.J. Bennett: 14-of-29 passing, two touchdowns, four interceptions
- Kendall Houston: 17 carries, 83 yards
- Demetre Baker: 20 carries, 74 yards; two fumbles, one lost
- Corey Waldon: three catches, 35 yards, touchdown
- Kevin Helms: three catches, 30 yards
- Jereme Jones: three catches, 27 yards
- Paul Bennett: two catches, 22 yards, touchdown
- Donald Russell (GSU): 20 carries, 136 yards, touchdown
- Kelton Hill (GSU): 12-of-15 passing, 209 yards, two touchdowns; 14 carries, 45 yards
- Albert Wilson (GSU): five catches, 175 yards, two touchdowns
South Alabama held a 24-17 edge in first downs, while Georgia State outgained the Jaguars 429-323 in total yards, 220-178 on the ground and 237-211 through the air.
