MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama held its first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in conjunction with Fan Day, with the offense gaining 328 yards and scoring two touchdowns and two field goals.
The Jaguars also debuted new blue uniforms during the event. The team has not said when or how often the uniforms will be worn this season.
First-Half Scoring
The first half of the scrimmage was closed to fans. During that portion, the offense scored three times: the first-team offense produced a touchdown and a field goal, and the second-team offense added a field goal on its final possession before a break.
Quarterback C.J. Bennett led the first unit on a 10-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Jordan Means. Demetre Baker carried four times for 39 yards on the drive in his only action of the day, and Bennett completed a 25-yard pass to Corey Waldon.
On the first team’s final possession, Bennett directed a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive. Santuan McGee picked up the drive’s first first down on an 11-yard run and finished the day with 26 yards on five carries. J.J. Keels kept the chains moving with runs of eight and four yards, and Bennett moved the offense into the red zone with a 13-yard completion to Waldon.
On the next play, Bennett and Waldon connected on what appeared to be a touchdown, but the score was wiped out by an offensive pass interference penalty. Keels then gained 16 yards, and Devin Robinson scored on an 18-yard run.
Trey Fetner led the second-team offense on a 54-yard drive, 47 yards of which came on a completion to Jake Howton on a post route. Robinson ran three times for 12 yards after the long pass, and Michel Chapuseaux kicked a 28-yard field goal on the final snap before the break.
Fetner to Ingram for Late Touchdown
The only score of the second half came on the next-to-last series, when Fetner found Anthony Ingram open down the middle of the field for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
For the day, the offense gained 328 yards and averaged just under five yards per play. Fetner completed 4 of 7 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Bennett was 2 of 4 for 38 yards. Keels ran 13 times for 74 yards, and Robinson carried 14 times for 57 yards.
Defensive Leaders
Desmond LaVelle led the defense with seven tackles, five of them unassisted. Cori Barnett and Cordivido Grice each had five tackles, and B.J. Scott and Damond Smith each recorded three tackles with the first team.
Among the second- and third-team units, Ameriol Finley, Ben Giles, Maleki Harris, Ceasare Johnson and Ramon Lewis each made three tackles. Inside linebacker Jake Johnson recorded an unassisted sack.
Kickers Connect From Distance
The scrimmage ended with special teams work on kickoff returns and placekicking, with each kicker attempting three field goals. Means made kicks of 37, 40 and 50 yards. Chapuseaux connected from 49 yards, and Lawson McGlon made a 45-yard attempt.
Jones: ‘Games Are Different’
Head coach Joey Jones said the scrimmage put players in full-speed tackling situations they had not faced in practice.
“I thought we responded well today,” Jones said. “We put them in some situations that they hadn’t been in in practice where you are tackling full speed. There is a difference, I don’t care who you are and how hard you practice — and we practice hard — games are different because there is that little extra burst that you always have to give.”
Jones said the team will need more game-type situations and noted that fatigue was a factor after 10 consecutive days of practice. “The bottom line is they need to realize that the game is a little different than practice,” he said. “The kids are fighting through it, I thought they gave good effort.”
Jones said the plan was for the first units to take 15 to 18 plays before the second and third units received extensive work. He said the offense, which had been outplayed by the defense in recent practices, responded Saturday. “The offense played a little better today, it was good to see them fight back,” Jones said.
Running Back Depth and Freshmen
Running back Kendall Houston did not play in the scrimmage, and Baker was held out after about six plays. Jones said the staff was using the scrimmage to build depth at the position.
“We know good and well what he can do,” Jones said of Baker. “We’re trying to develop some depth, and J.J. and Devin looked good. And Santuan has always looked real good, so we feel like we’ve got five guys back there that can play.”
Jones also said several freshmen could earn playing time, with redshirt decisions to come after next weekend’s scrimmage. “Some of those guys are stepping up and could fill some starting roles before long, but we’ll see how things progress,” he said.
Jake Johnson said the scrimmage gave the defense a look at game speed. “In practice we’re going full speed to the ball but we have to slow up and not hit,” Johnson said. “Today it was up tempo with linemen coming off hard and cutting us, running backs were running hard. We’re not there yet, but it was good for a first scrimmage to see that and where we need to be.”
Up Next
The Jaguars were scheduled to have Sunday off before returning to practice at 6:15 a.m. Monday at the Jaguar Practice Facility.
