MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama, coming off a 33-23 season-opening win over Gardner-Webb that featured four touchdowns of 49 yards or longer, travels to Lincoln, Neb., to face Nebraska on Saturday night.
Kickoff for South Alabama at Nebraska, at Memorial Stadium, is set for 7 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised nationally on the Big Ten Network.
Big Plays Carry Jaguars Past Gardner-Webb
Every South Alabama touchdown in Saturday’s opener covered at least 49 yards.
Terrance Timmons scored on his first carry, a 49-yard run in the opening two minutes. Later in the first quarter, Cody Clements found Gerald Everett on a 50-yard touchdown play.
After a lightning delay, Gardner-Webb adjusted on both sides of the ball. The Runnin’ Bulldogs scored nine points to close the first half and added a third-quarter touchdown to take a 16-13 lead with 10:50 left in the period.
The lead lasted 15 seconds. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Xavier Johnson took a play officially scored as a pass from Clements 56 yards for a touchdown that put the Jaguars back ahead 20-16.
Aleem Sunanon kicked a 41-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining in the third quarter and added a 28-yarder early in the fourth to make it 26-16. Sunanon was named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
After the South Alabama defense forced a punt that was fair caught near the Jaguars’ 8-yard line, Johnson broke loose on the second play of the possession for a 92-yard touchdown run, the longest in school history. Gardner-Webb scored again with 19 seconds remaining to account for the final margin.
“Overall we made some big plays when we had to have them,” head coach Joey Jones said. “Xavier Johnson had two big ones, he was the player of the game in my opinion. He had some big plays that really got us going in the second half.”
Opener by the Numbers
Johnson ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Combined with his 56-yard scoring reception, he finished with 177 all-purpose yards. Tyreis Thomas added 56 yards on nine carries, and Timmons ran four times for 51 yards and a score.
Clements, a transfer from UAB, completed 14 of 25 passes for 184 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Everett, also a UAB transfer, caught four passes for 75 yards.
Gardner-Webb’s option attack challenged the South Alabama defense, particularly after the weather delay, before the Jaguars adjusted to largely contain it later in the game. Bulldogs quarterback Tyrell Maxwell led all opposing rushers with 102 yards on 22 carries and completed 11 of 22 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Gardner-Webb’s tight end caught four passes for 89 yards and both touchdowns.
Nebraska Coming Off Last-Second Loss
Nebraska enters the game after losing its opener to BYU on a game-ending Hail Mary pass last Saturday.
The Cornhuskers gained 445 yards against BYU, 319 of them through the air. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong completed 24 of 41 passes for three touchdowns. Jordan Westerkamp led Nebraska with seven catches for 107 yards, and Brandon Reilly added five receptions for 70 yards. Terrell Newby was the leading rusher with 43 yards on 10 carries.
Nebraska’s defense allowed 511 yards to BYU, including 379 passing yards as Cougars quarterbacks combined to complete 28 of 46 attempts.
Jones on the Cornhuskers
Jones praised Nebraska and first-year head coach Mike Riley, who previously led Oregon State.
“They are pretty big and very talented as you might imagine, and they are very well-coached. Coach Riley did a great job at Oregon State,” Jones said. “Our hands are full, but our kids are really looking forward to the opportunity. They realize it’s a game that is going to be on national television, you want to do well when you are on a stage like that. It’s an exciting week for us.”
Jones said his team’s preparation is focused on its own execution.
“The thing about games like this is that the guys understand we are playing a very good football team,” Jones said. “But my focus is not on any opponent, it’s on us. I know that’s said a lot by coaches, but it’s the truth. We have to work and get better, and if we do that we will be able to block, tackle and execute in the game.”
“We’ve done pretty well against teams like this, but this is a new one and we have to get ready,” he added.
Game Information
- Matchup: South Alabama (1-0) at Nebraska (0-1)
- Site: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
- Kickoff: 7 p.m. CDT Saturday
- Television: Big Ten Network
