MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said Monday that the Jaguars played a fairly complete game in Saturday’s 38-21 homecoming win over Kent State, and that the team now faces the challenge of preparing for an option offense at Texas State.
The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and evened South Alabama’s record at 3-3. Jones was joined at his weekly press conference by running back Jay Jones and linebacker Enrique Williams.
‘A Game That You Like as a Coach’
“I thought we played a fairly complete game, and played well in all three phases,” Jones said. He said he liked the team’s confidence and approach, noting the Jaguars did not turn the ball over and had few penalties.
Jones said the win did a great deal for the players’ confidence after they beat a strong opponent and controlled the game. He said it also showed them the value of treating every quarter as if it were the end of the game. “From that standpoint, I thought we grew up,” he said.
Texas State’s Defense and Option
Jones said Texas State ranks first in the Sun Belt Conference in points allowed, which he called the only true measure of a defense. He said the Bobcats use a lot of movement up front and are well coached, and that their special teams are sound.
On offense, Texas State runs an option scheme that Jones said few players see anymore, even in high school. He said that in earlier years players faced the option regularly in high school and could simply review it, but that it is now unfamiliar to most. “We have to present it to them in a way they understand it,” Jones said.
Jay Jones Seizes His Chance
Jay Jones said Joey Jones told him before the Kent State game to be ready to carry the ball, and that the coaches put him in good positions to make plays. He said the offense is full of playmakers and that he has been playing his role like everyone else.
The running back said the comfortable win helped the team’s confidence after several close losses in games the Jaguars felt they should have won. He said the offense is improving as players understand their roles, with receivers blocking on running plays and backs picking up blitzes on passing plays. He credited the offensive line, which he said has had players step up through injuries.
Williams: A Statement Win
Williams said the coaches told the team it needed to make a statement against Kent State by winning by more than a touchdown or field goal, since so many games had come down to the final seconds.
He said South Alabama has faced option teams in recent years and that the defense must stay disciplined in its gaps against a quarterback who is a running threat.
South Alabama plays Texas State in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday in San Marcos, Texas, with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
