MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s defense forced five turnovers, tying a school record, and three quarterbacks combined for 299 passing yards as the Jaguars defeated Kentucky Wesleyan 52-3 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Jaguars scored on their opening possession, built a 42-0 lead before halftime and held the Panthers to 228 total yards, including 19 on the ground. The win kept South Alabama unbeaten at 4-0 this season.
Fast Start
South Alabama needed only a minute to get on the scoreboard. After the opening kickoff was returned to the Jaguar 36, Brandon Ross took the first handoff from starting quarterback Brennan Sim 62 yards to the Kentucky Wesleyan 2. Ross gained a yard on the next play, and Kendall Houston scored from a yard out.
The Panthers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and started their first possession at their own 6. Two plays netted seven yards before an illegal procedure penalty and a 5-yard loss on a screen pass forced a punt from the end zone. South Alabama’s next drive stalled near midfield, and Scott Garber’s 41-yard punt was downed at the Kentucky Wesleyan 5.
The Panthers picked up their first first down of the game, but two plays later Jake Johnson intercepted a pass and gave the Jaguars the ball at the Kentucky Wesleyan 14. After being stopped for no gain on first down, Houston broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run, and South Alabama led 14-0 with 8:19 left in the first quarter.
Gibbon Returns From Injury
Kentucky Wesleyan’s next drive stalled after a false start and a Logan Bennett sack. Following a series of penalties on the punt, the Jaguars took over at their own 19.
Myles Gibbon, playing in a game for the first time since a knee injury, completed a 41-yard pass to Courtney Smith on his first snap back. Ross followed with a 15-yard run to the Kentucky Wesleyan 25, but an 11-yard completion to Smith was negated by an illegal chop block, and the Jaguars eventually punted.
On Gibbon’s second series, he hit Lemontis Gardner for 33 yards and, facing third-and-long at the South Alabama 39, found Corey Waldon for a 46-yard gain to the Panther 15. Two plays later, Gibbon threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Paul Bennett, putting the Jaguars up 21-0 with 10:54 left in the second quarter.
Turnovers Fuel Second-Quarter Surge
Kentucky Wesleyan’s Sammy Bland returned the next kickoff 18 yards but fumbled, and South Alabama recovered. C.J. Bennett entered at quarterback, completed two short passes to Corey Besteda and, after a Jaguar timeout, threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Smith on fourth-and-1. South Alabama led 28-0 with 9:36 left in the half.
After a Panthers three-and-out and a short punt, Sim returned and completed his first pass to Bryant Lavender for 49 yards to the 2. Santuan McGee scored on the next play to make it 35-0 with 7:54 remaining in the second quarter.
Kentucky Wesleyan then moved to the Jaguar 32, aided by a 37-yard completion, before defensive back Michael Wilson intercepted a pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. South Alabama led 42-0 with 5:11 left in the first half.
The Jaguars forced and recovered another Panthers fumble on the following possession, though they were unable to capitalize. Kentucky Wesleyan put together its best drive of the game just before halftime, using completions of 49 and 23 yards to reach the South Alabama 11 before settling for a field goal. The Jaguars led 42-3 at the break.
Second Half
After forcing a three-and-out to open the third quarter, South Alabama drove 64 yards in six plays. C.J. Bennett completed a 31-yard pass to Smith and capped the drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gardner, making it 49-3 with 9:47 left in the third.
The Panthers’ next possession used 6:16 but covered only 11 yards. Later, a Kentucky Wesleyan returner fumbled a South Alabama punt, and the Jaguars recovered at the Panther 14. South Alabama drove to the 1, and on fourth down head coach Joey Jones sent in Jordan Means for a short field goal that accounted for the final 52-3 margin.
By the Numbers
South Alabama finished with 413 total yards, including 299 passing and 114 rushing, and 14 first downs. Kentucky Wesleyan had 228 yards and 11 first downs.
- Passing: South Alabama quarterbacks were a combined 14-of-24 for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Gibbon went 4-of-7 for 139 yards and a touchdown, C.J. Bennett 8-of-13 for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and Sim 2-of-4 for 55 yards.
- Rushing: Seven Jaguar running backs carried the ball. Ross had three carries for 78 yards, Houston five for 17 yards and two touchdowns, and Ellis Hill six for 15 yards.
- Receiving: Nine players caught passes. Smith led with three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown. Gardner had two for 58 yards and a touchdown, Ralph Turner two for 17 and Besteda two for 9. Lavender (49 yards), Waldon (46), Paul Bennett (19, touchdown), Kevin Helms (6) and Jeremy Roberts (4) each had one catch.
South Alabama’s kickers did not send a kickoff out of bounds in the game.
Jones: ‘We Can’t Get Complacent’
Jones said the Jaguars responded when Kentucky Wesleyan loaded up against the run.
“I thought we came out offensively and played well. They stacked the box on us and made us throw the ball; we have to get in the mode of throwing the ball down field when the opponent does that, which I think we were able to today,” Jones said.
He also cautioned his team against complacency. “We can’t get complacent where we are. It’s up to our players, staff and everybody involved not to get complacent at any time,” Jones said. “We know the task at hand. We have to get better next week.”
South Alabama hosts Missouri S&T on Saturday, Oct. 9, with a 4 p.m. kickoff at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Jaguars then go on the road for games at Lamar in Texas and at UC Davis in California before returning home to face Georgia State.
