MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — South Alabama takes its first road trip of the 2022 season this week to face Central Michigan, the Jaguars’ first FBS opponent of the year, at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
The Jaguars (1-0) opened with a 48-7 win over Nicholls State. Central Michigan (0-1) of the Mid-American Conference is coming off a 58-44 loss at No. 12 Oklahoma State.
History Against the MAC
This is the first meeting between South Alabama and Central Michigan and the Jaguars’ third MAC opponent. South Alabama is 3-2 against the league, 2-1 against Kent State and 1-1 against Bowling Green. The Falcons beat the Jaguars in the 2014 Camellia Bowl, South Alabama’s first bowl appearance, and South Alabama won 22-19 at Bowling Green last season on a last-minute field goal.
Jaguars Roll in Opener
South Alabama was a 10-point favorite against Nicholls State and led by more than that after the first quarter. The rebuilt offensive line and running back group produced 176 rushing yards, the Jaguars’ most since gaining 236 against Alcorn State on Sept. 18, 2021. South Alabama totaled 508 yards, including 332 passing, with no turnovers and two sacks allowed.
La’Damian Webb finished two yards short of 100 rushing yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns, and the first defender to reach him did not bring him down on any of his carries. Quarterback Carter Bradley, in his first start for South Alabama, completed 17 of 25 passes (68 percent) for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Jalen Wayne, who has moved into the top receiver role after Jalen Tolbert went to the NFL, caught three passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yarder. Caullin Lacy had six catches for 72 yards, and true freshman Braylon McReynolds, a McGill-Toolen product, ran effectively and caught an 18-yard touchdown pass in his debut.
The defense allowed 165 total yards, 106 passing and 59 rushing. Nicholls did not run a play in South Alabama territory until about halfway through the third quarter, converted 2 of 13 third downs and turned the ball over twice.
Head coach Kane Wommack praised his team for winning the “double positives” — creating explosive plays and protecting the ball. Offensive coordinator Major Applewhite studied the concept over eight years as a graduate assistant at Texas, where the Longhorns won every game in which they won both categories.
The Jaguars worked this week on penalties, after being flagged 10 times for 80 yards, and on third downs, where they converted 3 of 13. At right tackle, starter Antawn Lewis and backup Josh McCulloch were out with injuries against Nicholls, and redshirt freshman Adrein Strickland made his first career start. The Jaguars expect at least one of the two to return. South Alabama has 21 offensive linemen on its roster, and its line averages about 37 pounds more per player than the Central Michigan defensive line.
Jack Brooks averaged 41 yards on six punts with four downed inside the 20. Diego Guajardo made both field goal attempts, with a long of 48 yards, and all six extra points. Lacy’s 38-yard punt return was the fourth-longest in program history; Tra Minter holds the record with a 75-yard touchdown return in 2016. South Alabama’s longest punt return last season was 16 yards. Jacob Meeks handles kickoffs.
McElwain and a Familiar Face
Central Michigan is coached by Jim McElwain, Alabama’s offensive coordinator for four seasons under Nick Saban, a stretch that included two national championships and Mark Ingram’s 2009 Heisman Trophy. McElwain went 22-15 as head coach at Colorado State, improving from 4-8 in his first season to 10-2 in his third, and 22-12 at Florida, where he went 10-4 in his first season and was dismissed in his third season with the Gators at 3-4. He coached receivers at Michigan in 2018 before taking over at Central Michigan, where he is 20-14, including 9-4 last season with a Sun Bowl win over Washington State.
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino spent about six weeks on South Alabama’s staff as an offensive analyst in January and February. Petrino previously was head coach at Idaho during the Vandals’ four seasons in the Sun Belt and went 2-2 against South Alabama.
Chippewas Offense
Central Michigan outgained Oklahoma State 546-531 last week, with 424 passing yards and 122 rushing. The Chippewas trailed 37-7 late in the second quarter before scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter, including the final two touchdowns and two two-point conversions.
Quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 36 of 49 passes for 424 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Nine players caught passes. Jalen McGaughy had six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and Carlos Carriere, a graduate transfer from Maryland, had five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Central Michigan lost two receivers to the 2022 NFL Draft.
Lew Nichols ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and caught six passes for 26 yards. Myles Bailey added 51 rushing yards on nine carries and three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown. Last season Nichols led the nation in rushing yards (1,848), rushing yards per game (142.2), carries (341) and all-purpose yards (2,186), and was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Kobe Lewis, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2019 who missed 2021 with a knee injury, transferred to Purdue over the summer.
Central Michigan sent two offensive linemen to the NFL and lost a returning starter for the season to a knee injury in preseason camp.
Chippewas Defense and Special Teams
Central Michigan plays a traditional 4-3 base defense. Oklahoma State gained 531 yards against it, 406 passing and 125 rushing, and its quarterback completed 28 of 41 passes for four touchdowns with no interceptions and one sack. Eleven Cowboys caught passes.
The Chippewas are rebuilding their secondary. Sophomore Trey Jones of Wetumpka, Ala., led the team with nine tackles, eight solo, against Oklahoma State. Junior college transfer Jayden Davis, who had 47 tackles and two interceptions in a six-game 2021 season at Diablo Valley College, and freshman cornerback Donte Kent also started.
Central Michigan averaged 39.4 yards on five punts, missed its only field goal attempt from 50 yards and made both extra points.
Line
Central Michigan opened as a 6.5-point favorite. The line dropped as low as 4.5 before settling at 5.5 points.
