MOBILE, Ala. — Desmond Trotter threw three touchdown passes to Kawaan Baker and ran for another score as South Alabama beat Louisiana-Monroe 38-14 on Saturday, giving the Jaguars a 2-0 start in Sun Belt Conference play for the first time in program history.
South Alabama improved to 3-2 overall, its first winning record at any point since 2016. Louisiana-Monroe fell to 0-6 and 0-3 in the conference.
Rockette’s Pick-Six Starts It
South Alabama’s first possession ended in a three-and-out and a punt after 1:09. Louisiana-Monroe then drove to the Jaguars’ 14-yard line, where a pass from quarterback Colby Suits deflected off his receiver’s fingertips into the hands of Devin Rockette. Rockette returned it 95 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 10:07 left in the first quarter.
“We were in zone coverage and I saw a receiver sit down in front of me and saw the quarterback throw it so I just sat down and waiting for a tipped ball, and it was tipped, and then I didn’t see nothing but green,” Rockette said. “For that type of momentum to come out to start the game, I think that was a big part in the game.”
After a Warhawks punt, South Alabama drove to the ULM 31, and Diego Guajardo made a 50-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 3:01 left in the quarter.
The Jaguars forced another three-and-out and took over at their own 15. On the second play, Trotter hit Baker down the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead with 51 seconds left in the first quarter.
Warhawks Get on the Board
Louisiana-Monroe drove to the South Alabama 31 midway through the second quarter but was stopped on a fourth-and-short attempt. Chance Lovertich then entered at quarterback for the Jaguars and moved the offense to the ULM 18, but his pass was intercepted with 7:29 left in the half.
The Warhawks capitalized when running back Josh Johnson scored on a 2-yard run, but the extra point went wide right, leaving the score 17-6. On the final play of the half, head coach Steve Campbell kept his offense on the field for a fourth-and-5, and Lovertich ran to the 24 before he was tackled as time expired.
Trotter, Baker Pull Away
ULM moved quickly to open the second half, but the South Alabama defense stiffened at its 7-yard line. Warhawks coach Matt Viator sent out the field goal unit, and the 28-yard attempt also went wide right.
Trotter then led a drive that he finished with a 5-yard touchdown run, putting South Alabama ahead 24-6 with 4:35 left in the third quarter. On ULM’s next series, a bad snap on a fourth-down try gave the Jaguars the ball near midfield, and Trotter connected with Baker on a 16-yard touchdown for a 31-6 lead.
Suits threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Carroll, and after two missed kicks, ULM converted a two-point try to make it 31-14 with 12:26 to play.
South Alabama answered with a 16-play, 71-yard drive that used 10:46 of the clock. It ended with Baker making a one-handed catch while getting a foot down inbounds for his third touchdown.
Individual Statistics
Trotter completed 8 of 12 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns and was sacked three times. Lovertich was 3 of 5 for 62 yards with an interception and was sacked once. Baker caught six passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns, and Jalen Tolbert had two receptions for 68 yards. Carlos Davis led the Jaguars’ rushers with 58 yards on 17 carries.
Keith Gallmon led the defense with seven solo tackles, including one for loss. Riley Cole, Jamie Sheriff and Shawn Jennings each recorded a sack.
For Louisiana-Monroe, Suits completed 22 of 33 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown and was sacked three times. Johnson ran 15 times for 49 yards. Josh Pederson caught four passes for 65 yards, Jahquan Bloomfield had three for 69 and Tyler Lamm had three for 22.
Team Totals
- South Alabama: 415 total yards (169 rushing, 246 passing), 8 of 14 on third down, 3 of 3 on fourth down
- Louisiana-Monroe: 380 total yards (98 rushing, 282 passing), 3 of 10 on third down, 1 of 3 on fourth down
Campbell Credits Young Linemen
“I’m very pleased with the way the guys played tonight,” Campbell said. “It wasn’t about (coaches) making a call, the guys went out and made plays. That’s what it takes.”
“We were down a couple of offensive linemen, but some young guys like Trey Simpson, Braden Moody, and Tyler Jernigan stepped up and got the job done,” Campbell said. “To see those guys put together a 10-minute, 16-play drive; I’m really proud of them.”
South Alabama has a short week before traveling to Statesboro, Ga., to face Georgia Southern on Thursday night. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
