MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football coach Joey Jones said Tuesday that Tennessee-Martin will be the best team to visit Ladd-Peebles Stadium since the Jaguars began play, as South Alabama returns home for Saturday’s homecoming game after an overtime win at UTSA.
Jones and receivers coach Antoine discussed the UTSA win and the UT Martin matchup on the Joey Jones Show with host Lee Shirvanian.
Baker Delivers in Overtime
Running back Demetre Baker had a breakout game in San Antonio, including a long gain in regulation and the game-winning 25-yard run in overtime. Jones named Baker the offensive standout and again singled out Jake Johnson on defense, saying Johnson is playing at a very high level and has NFL potential.
Jones said he leaned on the offensive line late in the game because UTSA’s defenders had their hands on their hips, a sign of fatigue, and he felt the Jaguars were controlling the line of scrimmage. He said that gave him confidence entering overtime, and that the staff had a two-point conversion play ready that he believed would have surprised UTSA if needed.
Jones said the staff had warned the defense about a possible fake punt, but UTSA still converted on fourth-and-1. He said South Alabama works on blocking kicks periodically and adds a punt block, field goal block or both to its plan each week; the Jaguars blocked a kick against UTSA.
Jones said an intentional grounding call against quarterback C.J. Bennett, who was out of the pocket and being hit when he threw toward a receiver, was incorrect, and that he believed the referee acknowledged it afterward.
Offense and Bennett
Responding to a question about the offense starting fast and then stalling, Jones said South Alabama had only four first-half possessions and scored on two of them for 10 points, with another drive ending on an interception at the goal line. He said the team is “definitely not underestimating” its opponents.
Asked about Bennett’s touchdown-to-interception ratio, which has turned around from last season, Jones said Bennett now knows the offense well enough to work through his third and fourth reads but sometimes tries to make a perfect throw, which has led to turnovers. He called it part of the growing process for a young quarterback. Jones said Bennett does not have a single go-to receiver and does a good job working through his progressions.
Antoine said South Alabama rotates receivers often so each runs every route at full speed. The starters are Lavender and Gardner outside, with Jereme Jones and Corey Waldon inside. Antoine said freshman Jake Howton played well and ran good routes. Jones said the offense spreads the ball around and takes what defenses allow rather than targeting any one player.
Jones said the staff is gradually working freshman running back J.J. Keels into specific situations, and that Ellis Hill played well and scored a touchdown. Howton and receiver Greg Hollinger are also getting more involved.
Injuries and Roster Notes
The Jaguars came out of San Antonio in good health. Offensive lineman Brian Krauskopf turned an ankle and is day to day but is expected to play Saturday; Tremain Smith will fill in if needed. Jones said the young offensive linemen are developing into needed depth.
Jones declined to discuss the suspension of cornerback Damon Smith but said it affected the defense. Gabe Loper, who had played mainly safety as the nickel back, moved to cornerback on short notice.
Running back Brandon Ross has been practicing on the field and is about 85 to 90 percent recovered, Jones said, but will not play until he is fully ready. If pushed, Ross might return for the last couple of games, but Jones said that may not be in his best interest. Ross will be back next season, and the program will wait until after the season to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility.
Jones said South Alabama will not replace its 10th assistant coach because FBS rules allow nine. He said the staff plans to redshirt junior college transfer Ceasare Johnson and move him from defensive end to an interior position, where he is expected to reach about 300 pounds.
Scouting UT Martin
Jones said UT Martin scores a lot of points and plays Division I-AA opponents every week with success. The Skyhawks led ninth-ranked Jacksonville State 23-10 before losing in the fourth quarter, and led Tennessee Tech by a couple of touchdowns before a late comeback.
Antoine said UT Martin will show a wide variety of coverages, including man-to-man, Cover 0 and Cover 1, rather than settling into one or two looks.
Jones asked fans to fill Ladd-Peebles Stadium and make it loud to give the Jaguars a home-field advantage. Baumhower’s on Airport Boulevard will show the game for fans who cannot attend.
Update: UT Martin by the Numbers
UT Martin enters Saturday’s homecoming game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium with a 3-2 record. The Skyhawks have beaten Union College 63-0, No. 24 Murray State 48-26 and Austin Peay 61-23, and lost 24-23 to No. 9 Jacksonville State and 34-31 to Tennessee Tech.
The Skyhawks average 45.2 points and 511.6 yards per game while allowing 21.4 points per game. They have totaled 2,558 yards of offense, 1,144 rushing and 1,414 passing. On the ground they average 5 yards per carry and 228.8 yards per game with 14 rushing touchdowns. Their quarterbacks have completed 100 of 168 passes for 13 touchdowns and six interceptions, averaging 8.4 yards per attempt and 282.8 passing yards per game.
Quarterback Derek Carr has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes. Running backs McNair and Barksdale have combined for more than 800 rushing yards; McNair has 465 yards, or 93 per game, and Barksdale averages 64.6 yards per game. Receivers Stephen Shiver and Quentin Sims have combined for 38 catches, 591 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, UT Martin allows 316.6 yards per game and 4.8 yards per play. Opponents average 130.4 rushing yards and 3.7 yards per carry, with three rushing touchdowns all season, and 186.2 passing yards per game with eight passing touchdowns. The Skyhawks have five interceptions, have forced five fumbles and recovered four, and have lost just one of their own three fumbles, for a plus-1 turnover margin.
UT Martin converts 49 percent of its third downs and 50 percent of its fourth downs, while opponents have converted 22 percent on third down and 40 percent on fourth down. The Skyhawks average 92.8 penalty yards per game, compared with 50.2 for their opponents. They have returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns and allowed one kickoff return for a score.
