BOONE, N.C. — Brandon Bridge passed for 339 yards and three touchdowns, and South Alabama piled up 582 yards of total offense in a 47-21 Sun Belt Conference win over Appalachian State on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The Jaguars set season highs in points and yards. The 582 yards rank second in school history. South Alabama improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt, while Appalachian State fell to 1-4 and 0-2 in its worst home loss since 1984.
Bridge Climbs the Record Book
Bridge completed 19 of 28 passes. His 339 passing yards are the second-highest single-game total in program history, behind Ross Metheny’s 360. Bridge’s 362 yards of total offense also rank second, behind Metheny’s school record of 365.
Shavarez Smith caught six passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns, his first 100-yard game since last season’s game against Georgia State. Xavier Johnson ran for a career-high 70 yards on 10 carries, Jay Jones added 67 yards on 12 carries and Terrance Timmons gained 60 yards and scored a touchdown on four carries.
Fast Start
Bridge opened the scoring on an eight-yard run. Grant McLaurin added two field goals, and Bridge connected with Smith on a 67-yard touchdown pass for a 20-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Appalachian State scored late in the half on a 20-yard pass to Malachi Jones. Earlier on that drive, South Alabama linebacker Maleki Harris was ejected for targeting.
Three Straight Third-Quarter Touchdowns
South Alabama scored on all three of its third-quarter possessions, each on a six-play drive. The first started at the Jaguar 25 after a touchback and ended with Bridge’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Danny Woodson. McLaurin’s extra point attempt failed, leaving the score 26-7.
After an Appalachian State punt, South Alabama started at its own 38 and scored on Bridge’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Aleem Sunanon’s extra point made it 33-7. The Jaguars then drove from their 43, and Timmons ran 30 yards for a touchdown and a 40-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.
South Alabama substituted heavily in the final period. Johnson recovered a muffed Appalachian State punt at the Mountaineers’ 35, and after three straight Timmons runs, Berron Tyson scored on his first career carry for a 47-14 lead with 10:10 remaining.
Defense Sets the Tone
South Alabama allowed 33 yards in the first quarter and 169 in the first half. Terrell Brigham led the Jaguars with eight tackles. Roman Buchanan, Desmond LaVelle and Demarius Rancifer had seven each, and Jesse Kelley had a career-high six tackles, including a half sack.
“The defense comes out ready to play every game,” head coach Joey Jones said. “[Defensive coordinator] Coach [Travis] Pearson and his staff do a great job with them. They just motivate their players; they just get after it. But when they come out and play that well early, it sets the tone and it lets the offense get rolling.”
“I am very proud of this football team,” Jones said. “Last week we travelled across the country to play Idaho and played a good game. And we came here this week to Appalachian State where they have a lot of tradition. They have great facilities here. It’s a great venue, and our kids played extremely well. They have that look in their eyes right now, and they are understanding what it takes.”
Up Next
South Alabama has an open date next week before returning to Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, to host Georgia State (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) for homecoming. A kickoff time has not been announced.
