MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Tuesday that the Jaguars played a very good game at NC State and that he considers it a success for the program, even though a handful of missed plays cost South Alabama a chance to beat the Wolfpack in the 20th game in school history.
Jones and defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Brian Turner reviewed the loss on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian at Baumhower’s on Airport Boulevard.
Winning the Fundamentals
Jones said the Jaguars accomplished several of the basics coaches look for — stopping the run, running the ball and controlling possession — but turned the ball over several times while also forcing turnovers. He said the team was physically tough, was not intimidated and did not back down, but did not make the three or four plays that decide a game of that kind.
Kendall Houston rushed 18 times for 117 yards, accounting for most of South Alabama’s 139 rushing yards excluding sack yardage. The Jaguars held NC State’s running game in check despite concerns about the Wolfpack’s size, but quarterback Mike Glennon completed 17 of 20 passes for 297 yards, with two deep post routes doing the most damage.
Jones said he does not like losing but noted that South Alabama had a chance to win against a team that beat Florida State last season. He told his players they can dwell on what might have been or focus on improving for the next game.
Plays That Got Away
Shirvanian pointed to several key plays: a fumble on an onside kick; an open receiver near the 30-yard line who would likely have scored on a better throw; a Jake Johnson forced fumble at the 5-yard line that Anton Graphenreed recovered and then fumbled back to NC State; and a C.J. Bennett pass intended for an open Kevin Helms that was intercepted at the 5. Jones added a South Alabama touchdown that was called back for a procedure penalty he said was not supported by film, but said such things happen and the team must make plays.
Jones said Bennett, a redshirt freshman, played very well overall in a difficult environment, made several outstanding throws, read coverages well and converted many third downs. He noted a high throw over the middle that was intercepted and the pass to Helms, on which Bennett floated the ball behind the safety without seeing the backside cornerback, a coverage the staff had not shown him in practice.
Jones said one of NC State’s touchdown passes came when cornerback Damon Smith fell and the other resulted from a miscommunication, and he praised the secondary’s work against receiver T.J. Graham. Because NC State leads the nation in kickoff returns, South Alabama used high, short kickoffs; Graham’s first return reached about the 42-yard line, the Wolfpack’s only long kickoff return.
Jones said the kicking game improved. Jordan Means made 2 of 3 field goals, including a 46-yarder, and missed from 44. Punter Scott Garber was effective after the Jaguars switched to a rugby-style punt, which Jones said is difficult to return because it is low and gives the coverage team time to get downfield. On a play in which Garber was run into, Jones said the rule distinguishes between bumping and hitting the kicker and leaves the call to the official’s judgment, which special teams coach Tommy Perry confirmed after reviewing the rulebook.
Jones declined to criticize the officiating, citing rules that subject coaches to fines, but said the staff will send film to the conference office as part of the normal process of helping officials improve.
Defensive Line Play
Turner said the defensive line held its gaps and was not pushed off the ball as much as feared. He said the plan called for blitzing while playing coverage, which often left three or four rushers facing five or six blockers. South Alabama recorded four sacks of Glennon, two by Romelle Jones, though Turner said the Jaguars should have reached him more often. Romelle Jones has been the team’s defensive lineman of the week in each of the last two games.
Turner said the defensive line, inside linebackers and outside linebackers rotate every three plays regardless of matchups. He said he saw no sign of intimidation in the players’ eyes before the game.
Jones named Houston and the offensive line as the offensive standouts and singled out Romelle Jones, along with safeties B.J. Scott and Charles Harris, on defense. He estimated 700 to 800 South Alabama fans attended in Raleigh, and the players raised their helmets to that section after the game.
Injuries and Kent State
Ken Barefield, who was injured late in the game, will play Saturday at Kent State. Rush Hendricks has an ankle injury and will miss the game. Jake Johnson has a minor quadriceps injury but will be fine.
Jones said Kent State is a strong defensive team that has struggled on offense, though its season opener against Alabama makes it hard to judge. Turner said Kent State has shifted from a pass-heavy approach to running with a 260-pound back, and has a defensive lineman who gave Alabama’s offensive line trouble. The game is the first of a series in which South Alabama visits Kent State, hosts the Golden Flashes and then returns to Kent. Kickoff Saturday is 2:30 p.m., and Kent State will stream the game free online.
Recruiting Update
South Alabama has 12 verbal commitments for its 2012 class after nose tackle Fredrick Walker of Lamar County, Ga., committed this week. Walker, 6-foot-2 and 320 pounds, chose South Alabama over Georgia Southern after turning down Central Florida and South Florida. Turner said the Jaguars are competing with Big East, Conference USA and Sun Belt programs and now recruit all of Georgia along with Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
Jones said the top needs are offensive linemen, with four seniors expected to depart, and two tight ends to replace seniors Paul Bennett and Kevin Helms. On defense, the staff wants an athletic edge rusher and more depth in the secondary. Jones said South Alabama wants quarterback recruits who believe they can beat out Bennett.
Homecoming Plans
Loyd Meyers outlined homecoming week leading up to the Oct. 15 game against Tennessee-Martin. A pep rally at the Bell Tower on Thursday, Oct. 13, will be followed by a volleyball match against Troy. Friday’s events include the homecoming parade, a Moonlight Madness event marking the start of basketball practice and a soccer match at The Cage.
Asked about conference realignment, Jones said he dislikes it as a fan but that it could present opportunities for South Alabama, and he expects significant changes in the next couple of years.
Update: Game Statistics
The game was South Alabama’s first against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. NC State outgained the Jaguars 392 yards to 286 overall and 297 to 182 through the air, while South Alabama held a 104-95 edge on the ground. The Jaguars averaged 3.2 yards on 33 rushes; the Wolfpack averaged 2.6 yards on 37 carries.
- First downs: NC State 19, South Alabama 18.
- Offensive plays: South Alabama 65, NC State 59.
- Time of possession: South Alabama 32:45, NC State 27:15.
- Third-down conversions: South Alabama 7 of 15, NC State 5 of 9.
- Penalties: South Alabama 9 for 50 yards, NC State 1 for 15 yards.
- South Alabama punted four times for a 41.8-yard average.
Kendall Houston’s 117 rushing yards came with a long run of 24. Demetre Baker ran for 18 yards on eight carries and scored South Alabama’s first touchdown against an FBS opponent. C.J. Bennett completed 17 of 32 passes for 182 yards with two interceptions. Jordan Means’ other field goal came from 36 yards.
Corey Waldon led South Alabama with five catches for 57 yards. Jereme Jones added five receptions for 35 yards and Bryant Lavender caught three passes for 39 yards, with Besteda, Houston and Gardner also making catches.
On defense, Jake Johnson had eight tackles, five of them solo, and a sack. Charles Harris also made eight tackles, three solo. Romelle Jones’ two sacks of Mike Glennon totaled 17 yards, and Alex Page recorded the Jaguars’ other sack.
