MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama will face its first opponent above the prep school level Saturday when Georgia Military College visits Ladd-Peebles Stadium for an 11:30 a.m. kickoff.
The South Alabama Georgia Military matchup comes after the Jaguars opened their inaugural football season with wins over two prep school programs, Hargrave Military Academy and Army Prep.
A Ranked Junior College Opponent
Georgia Military enters with a 3-2 record and is ranked No. 14 in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll released Tuesday. The Bulldogs have reached the NJCAA national championship game three times over the past decade, winning once, and 18 of their players signed with Division I programs last year.
Run Game Meets Run Defense
South Alabama’s ground game has led the offense through two games. The Jaguars are averaging 287 rushing yards per game and nearly six yards per carry.
That strength will be tested by a Georgia Military defense that has been stout against the run, allowing 91.8 rushing yards per game and 2.9 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, the Jaguar defense is giving up 284.5 total yards per game, including 109 on the ground. South Alabama has forced nine turnovers, with five interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
Special Teams
Kicker Michel Chapuseaux made every extra point attempt against Army Prep and converted his only field goal attempt of the season. In the opener against Hargrave, the Jaguars chose to go for it on fourth down rather than attempt field goals.
Punter Scott Garber has punted only twice in two games but is averaging 52 yards per punt, with both kicks downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Erling Riis is averaging 19 yards per punt return.
The Jaguars blocked a punt in each of their first two games, though the block against Hargrave was negated by a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Georgia Military is averaging 30.5 yards per punt and has not attempted a field goal this season.
Jones on the Bulldogs
Speaking at the Jaguars’ weekly media day Monday, head coach Joey Jones said Georgia Military’s offense presents several challenges.
“Number one, they run multiple formations. They have a very athletic quarterback that can throw the ball and run it as well,” Jones said. “(Georgia Military) probably has the fastest running back (Tobias Palmer) that we’ve seen on film this year. He’s a very good player. They have a lot of weapons and guys that can score on you quickly. That always worries you as a coach.”
Jones said the junior college’s two-year roster structure gives it an edge in experience over the prep school teams South Alabama has faced.
“The advantage that (Georgia Military) has is that they have these kids for two years,” Jones said. “They have players that are older and who have been in big games. They can teach the younger players what it is all about. That’s like our team. I think we have some older guys that have been able to teach our younger players what it’s all about, so we should be pretty similar to them. The two previous teams that we played have been all freshman. They both have been very talented, but didn’t have the older guys to try and show them how to do things.”
Early Kickoff
Jones said he welcomes the late-morning start time.
“I think that it is going to work out real good for us. I like the idea of getting up and eating your pregame meal at 7:30 a.m.,” he said. “You don’t have to sit around all day and worry about the game. I have always liked early games, both as a player and as a coach.”
The 2009 season is South Alabama’s first playing football, with Jones leading the new program and the Jaguars playing their home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
