BOONE, N.C. — South Alabama football faces one of the Sun Belt Conference’s top teams Saturday afternoon when the Jaguars visit Appalachian State for the Mountaineers’ homecoming.
South Alabama is 1-3 overall and 1-0 in Sun Belt play. Appalachian State is 2-1 and has not yet played a conference game. Appalachian State is favored by 25.5 points.
The game is South Alabama’s first afternoon game of the season and the second of three consecutive road games.
Coming Off a Shootout at Memphis
South Alabama lost 52-35 at Memphis last week, unable to keep pace with the Tigers’ offense late in the game. Senior quarterback Evan Orth tied the school single-game record with 360 passing yards, and the Jaguars converted 8 of 15 third downs after struggling on third down earlier in the season.
Orth has settled in as the starter, completing 66 of 96 passes for 789 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. The quick-release passing game has kept the offense simple and reduced pressure on an offensive line that has allowed nine sacks and seven hurries.
Way Emerging as a Top Target
Jamarius Way has put together back-to-back games of more than 170 receiving yards and ranks seventh nationally in receiving yards per game. He has three touchdown catches on 12 receptions and has accounted for more than a third of South Alabama’s points this season.
Way is the third Jaguar to record multiple 100-yard receiving games in two different seasons and the first in program history with more than one 150-yard game in the same season.
Slot receiver Kawaan Baker leads the team in rushing with 134 yards, a 6.4-yard average and four touchdowns. Tra Minter has 120 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and Orth has 113. The new coaching staff has shifted the offense toward a more run-heavy approach than in 2017.
Nigel Lawrence has led South Alabama in tackles in three of its four games.
Defensive Numbers
South Alabama’s defense uses a heavy pass rush and frequent man-to-man coverage to create negative plays. Opponents have converted fewer than 30 percent of third downs against the Jaguars, which ranks 19th nationally. However, South Alabama has allowed 15 plays of 30 or more yards, which ranks 125th, and gives up 6.2 yards per play, 104th nationally, and nearly 14 yards per completion.
Appalachian State’s Profile
Appalachian State lost 45-38 in overtime to Penn State, then beat Charlotte 45-9 and Gardner-Webb 72-7. Its scheduled game against Southern Miss was canceled.
Since losing to South Alabama in Boone, the Mountaineers are 38-11 overall and 27-3 in conference play and have won three consecutive bowl games.
Quarterback Zac Thomas has completed 50 of 67 passes for 750 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. His 74.6 percent completion rate ranks fourth nationally, and he leads the Sun Belt in yards per attempt (11.19), pass efficiency rating (195.2), yards per completion (15.0) and points responsible for per game (18.0). As a team, Appalachian State’s 75.3 percent completion rate is second nationally behind Ohio State’s 76.9.
The Mountaineers are second in the FBS with four offensive plays of more than 60 yards and are the only team with multiple plays of 80 or more yards.
Appalachian State leads the Sun Belt in:
- Scoring offense: 51.7 points per game
- Total offense: 525.7 yards per game
- Total defense: 282.3 yards per game
- Pass defense: 154.7 yards per game
- Rush defense: 111 yards per game
- Pass defense efficiency: 95.2
- Kickoff returns: 39.5 yards
- Sacks allowed: 1.67 per game
- Opponent first downs: 16.7 per game
The Mountaineers rank second in the league in scoring defense (20.3), pass efficiency (189.2) and punt returns (16.7). Appalachian State’s secondary goes by the nickname “Legion of Boone.”
Series History
The series is tied 1-1, and the road team has won each meeting. South Alabama won its only previous game in Boone, and Appalachian State won the next season’s matchup in Mobile.
