MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama led Georgia Southern 30-14 entering the fourth quarter Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium, but the Eagles scored three touchdowns in the final period to rally for a 34-30 win.
The Jaguars fell to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia Southern improved to 6-3 and 4-1.
“We have to play better,” head coach Major Applewhite said. “We were our own worst enemy. … We just did not play clean enough in the fourth quarter. Give them credit for coming back and winning the ball game, but we certainly made it a little bit easier.”
27 Unanswered Points
Georgia Southern led 14-3 around the middle of the second quarter before South Alabama took over. Fluff Bothwell scored on a 1-yard run, and Laith Marjan kicked a field goal with seven seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 14-13.
The Jaguars’ opening drive of the second half reached the red zone before penalties stalled it. DJ Thomas-Jones was forced out at the 1-yard line on a reception, but the play was wiped out by offensive pass interference on Devin Voisin, and a holding penalty on Kenton Jerido followed. On third-and-goal from the 25, Gio Lopez found Jamaal Pritchett for 19 yards, and Marjan made a 24-yard field goal for a 16-14 lead.
On the next possession, Bothwell overcame a false start by running 22 yards for his second touchdown of the game and 10th of the season, making it 23-14 at the 5:08 mark of the third quarter.
After a Georgia Southern turnover on downs near midfield, Lopez hit Voisin at the 6. Voisin advanced to the 3 before he was hit and fumbled forward into the end zone, where Pritchett recovered for a touchdown and a 30-14 lead in the final seconds of the third quarter.
Fourth-Quarter Collapse
South Alabama’s ensuing sky kick was returned 25 yards to the Jaguars’ 46. On second-and-9 to open the fourth quarter, Georgia Southern quarterback JC French threw deep to Josh Dallas for a 45-yard touchdown.
“We had a miscommunication on special teams,” Applewhite said. “It took the air out of the stadium when we gave them great field position and those are the type of things we can’t do down the stretch as a ball club and expect to win games.”
Braylon McReynolds returned the next kickoff 18 yards, but officials ruled Georgia Southern recovered a fumble on the play. Two plays later, the Eagles scored again, cutting the lead to 30-27 only 50 seconds into the quarter.
South Alabama’s next possession began with a false start and ended in a three-and-out. On Georgia Southern’s ensuing drive, Reggie Neely was called for targeting, and a few plays later quarterback Dexter Williams III threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dalen Cobb for the final margin.
Final Possessions
A holding penalty put South Alabama behind schedule on its next drive, and Lopez’s deep pass intended for Jeremiah Webb was intercepted at the Georgia Southern 34. Lopez went to the medical tent after the play, and Bishop Davenport replaced him.
Davenport was sacked for a 7-yard loss on third-and-6 at the Georgia Southern 16, then sacked again for a 9-yard loss on fourth-and-13 against a blitz.
“It’s a tough situation,” Applewhite said. “I mean, their ears are pinned back, they know exactly what the situation is and it’s not an ideal spot for Bishop. But we’ve got to somehow, some way, get the ball out.”
South Alabama had all three timeouts and needed a defensive stop, but a defensive delay-of-game penalty helped Georgia Southern convert a first down on second-and-4, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock.
Statistics
- Lopez completed 22 of 30 passes for 257 yards with a touchdown and an interception, his second of the season, and ran for 43 yards on seven carries. Davenport was 1 of 2 for 17 yards.
- Pritchett caught 12 passes for 107 yards and was credited with the touchdown on the fumble recovery. Voisin had five catches for 66 yards.
- Kentrel Bullock led all rushers with 101 yards on 17 carries. Bothwell had 31 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
For Georgia Southern, French completed 22 of 27 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, and Williams was 3 of 5 for 33 yards and a touchdown. Dallas caught five passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, Cobb had five for 54 and a touchdown, and OJ Arnold had six for 42.
Up Next
South Alabama has an open date next week before traveling to Lafayette, La., to face first-place Louisiana on Saturday, Nov. 16. The Jaguars need two wins in their final three games to become eligible for a third consecutive bowl appearance.
