MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama cleaned up the mistakes from its season opener and beat Lamar 30-8 Saturday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, improving the Jaguars’ all-time record to 19-0.
The game was the first in the young program’s history against an opponent it had already faced. South Alabama also beat Lamar in their previous meeting.
A week earlier, the Jaguars overcame four turnovers to defeat West Alabama 20-10. With two extra days to prepare between games, South Alabama avoided giving the ball away against the Cardinals.
Ground Game Leads the Way
South Alabama outgained Lamar 349-238 and topped 200 rushing yards for the second consecutive game.
Demetre Baker led the Jaguars with 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, with half of his yardage coming on the opening drive. Kendall Houston ran 13 times for 43 yards and a touchdown, and Myles Gibbon added 45 yards in the second half.
Bennett Throws Two Touchdowns
Quarterback C.J. Bennett completed 9 of 14 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
- Bryant Lavender: 3 catches, 41 yards
- Corey Waldon: 2 catches, 47 yards, 1 touchdown
- Kevin Helms: 2 catches, 36 yards
- Lamontis Gardner: 1 catch, 10 yards
- Jereme Jones: 1 catch, 10 yards, 1 touchdown
Jones: ‘A Much Better Game’
Head coach Joey Jones said his team’s preparation showed.
“I thought it was a much better game this week. We played much more soundly and stayed away from the turnover game,” Jones said. “Offensively, we were much more efficient with the football and defensively we played well again.”
“Lamar is really talented, they are going to win a lot of ballgames,” he added. “Our week of practice was much better, and our backs were against the wall a little. We knew this team could come in here and beat us, and we came out and played really well.”
First FBS Opponent Next
South Alabama will face a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for the first time when it travels to Raleigh, N.C., to play North Carolina State. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Central (6 p.m. Eastern), and the game will be streamed nationally on ESPN3.com.
