MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama completed its first season of football unbeaten Thursday night, shutting out Huntingdon College 35-0 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium to finish 7-0. The South Alabama Huntingdon game drew 23,683 fans, the second-largest crowd of the Jaguars’ inaugural season.
The Jaguars wore all-white uniforms for the finale and unveiled a new offensive package, a direct-snap formation built on the familiar Wildcat. South Alabama led 7-0 at halftime before scoring four second-half touchdowns, and its defense allowed Huntingdon just 83 yards after the break.
Sim Starts in Place of Gibbon
Junior Brennan Sim made the start at quarterback in place of Myles Gibbon, who was helped off the field after a pass play in the previous week’s game and left the stadium on crutches. Further examination this week showed Gibbon had a bad ankle sprain rather than a break. Several other South Alabama players also sat out Thursday’s game with injuries.
Sim completed 13 of 20 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and he added 50 yards on eight carries. Nick Owens threw one pass, which fell incomplete.
“It means a lot to the team to finish the season 7-0, to face a little adversity for the first time, and to come out with a really strong second half,” Sim said. “For me, it was exciting to be able to end the season on a high note.”
Goal-Line Stand Turns the First Quarter
Huntingdon forced a South Alabama punt on the game’s opening possession and took over at its own 23-yard line. The Hawks then connected on a 78-yard pass on a broken play, moving the ball to the Jaguars’ 2-yard line and putting South Alabama in position to allow its first first-quarter points of the season and possibly trail for the first time.
The Jaguar defense held. On first down from the 2, South Alabama stopped the ball carrier a yard short of the goal line, and on the next snap the Jaguars forced a fumble and recovered it near the 2.
South Alabama answered with an eight-play, 98-yard drive. Brandon Ross finished it with a 5-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
On Huntingdon’s next possession, South Alabama intercepted a pass, but the Jaguars gave the ball back two plays later. The teams traded punts for much of the rest of the half, and with 3:21 left before halftime, Michel Chapaseaux missed a field goal attempt wide right.
Second-Half Surge
After a solid return of the second-half kickoff, South Alabama drove 54 yards in seven plays, and Ross scored again on a 1-yard run to make it 14-0.
Huntingdon’s next drive ended in an interception, but the Jaguars went three-and-out and punted. After forcing another Huntingdon punt, South Alabama scored on three consecutive possessions: a 10-play, 62-yard drive, an eight-play, 85-yard drive and a two-play, 37-yard drive. Santuan McGee caught a touchdown pass from Sim to finish the first of those drives, then ran for scores of 1 and 12 yards on the next two.
By the Numbers
- Ross ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, his third 100-yard rushing game of the season.
- McGee rushed 11 times for 93 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a reception.
- Courtney Smith led the receivers with four catches for 73 yards, and Corey Waldon had three receptions for 39 yards. Five other Jaguars caught passes.
- South Alabama totaled 495 yards, 345 rushing and 150 passing, with 22 first downs. The Jaguars were penalized nine times for 85 yards.
- Huntingdon finished with 236 yards, 54 rushing and 182 passing, and 11 first downs. The Hawks were penalized 11 times for 72 yards.
Coaches and Players React
Head coach Joey Jones, who has built the program since its start, said the unbeaten record was a product of daily work.
“It feels great of course, and we had that as a goal, but we really concentrate on the little things,” Jones said. “That’s what gets you to 7-0 – those little things you do every day in practice that the coaches keep harping to the players, and that’s just nothing but a reward for your hard work each day. I never thought we’d be 7-0.”
Jones said he welcomed the test Huntingdon provided.
“We kind of wanted a challenge. Of course I would’ve rather scored a few more points, but the bottom line is Huntingdon came out and played great,” Jones said. “Those guys are scrappy, and I knew it. When I watched them on film I knew they would present a challenge. Hats off to them for coming out and playing well.”
“We needed a game, we needed to be able to come in at halftime and regroup, refocus and make some changes,” he added. “We did that, the staff did a great job at halftime, and we came out and played a great second half.”
Huntingdon’s head coach credited the Jaguars’ defense and preparation.
“We haven’t played anyone like that has frustrated us that much defensively,” he said. “They were able to really shut down the things we were trying to do and make us go places we’re not accustomed to going as far as the game plan. A lot of credit goes to coach Jones and his staff. They are doing a fantastic job, and they obviously outcoached us tonight.”
South Alabama defender Zach Brownell said the Hawks showed the Jaguars some looks they had not prepared for.
“They were a good offense. They came out and hit us in the mouth,” Brownell said. “Their receivers were physical and they showed us some stuff we didn’t see on film.”
Looking Ahead
With the season complete, the South Alabama coaching staff turns its attention to recruiting in the weeks leading up to National Signing Day in early February. The Jaguars’ next games will come in the 2010 season.
