South Alabama Football Routs Louisiana-Monroe 52-35 on Homecoming as Hollins, Eager Post Career Nights

MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football delivered a homecoming performance its fans will be talking about for a while, piling up 570 total yards in a 52-35 rout of Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The victory opened Sun Belt Conference play on a high note for the Jaguars, who are now 3-2 overall and 1-0 in league games. Louisiana-Monroe dropped to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

It was a night built on big plays, a fast start and contributions from nearly every corner of the roster. South Alabama scored on its first three offensive possessions, added a defensive touchdown in the opening minutes and never let the Warhawks get within two scores after the game’s first two minutes.

South Alabama Football Strikes Fast on Homecoming Night

The Jaguars needed only two snaps to get on the scoreboard. Quarterback Jared Hollins, making his third consecutive start, found wide receiver Brendan Jenkins for a 72-yard touchdown on the second play from scrimmage. That connection stands as South Alabama’s longest play of the season.

The defense quickly added to the lead. Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Aidan Armenta was hit from behind and lost the football, and defensive lineman Mase Lewis scooped it up and carried it 21 yards into the end zone.

Lewis admitted afterward that he had not planned for that moment. “I almost blacked out,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what my celebration was.”

By the end of the first quarter, South Alabama had scored three touchdowns. It was the second game in a row in which the Jaguars put up three touchdowns in a single quarter, a sign that the offense has found a rhythm early in games.

Jared Hollins Posts Career Night Through the Air

Hollins finished with career highs in both passing yards and touchdown passes, throwing for 321 yards and three scores. Remarkably, he did not attempt a pass in the fourth quarter, as the Jaguars leaned on their running game to close out the win.

His 321 yards are the most by a South Alabama quarterback since Gio Lopez threw for 432 yards against North Texas in the 2024 season opener.

Efficiency was the story. Hollins needed just 14 completions to reach his yardage total, because so many of them went for chunks of the field. His three touchdown passes covered 72, 69 and 35 yards.

The quarterback was quick to share the credit. “I’m going to give credit to the wideouts man,” Hollins said. “Just get open.”

Anthony Eager’s Breakout Game

Two of those long scoring strikes went to Anthony Eager, a senior wide receiver from Mobile. Eager set a career high with 168 receiving yards, and he did it on only four receptions.

“We’ve been having a struggle with deep shots, but tonight we were on fire with all of them,” Eager said.

The big night came after a difficult stretch. Eager dealt with an injury through most of spring practice and preseason camp, and he did not play any offensive snaps in South Alabama’s opening game against Southeastern Louisiana.

He kept his sense of humor about it. “My wrist sucks. I’m going to have arthritis,” Eager said with a laugh.

Waiting his turn is nothing new for the Mobile native. Eager pointed to former Jaguars receivers Jamaal Pritchett and Jalen Wayne, saying he spent time behind them and used it to develop. “I was learning from them, picking it up and showing them I could belong here too,” he said.

Ground Game Grinds Out 249 Rushing Yards

While the deep passes grabbed the headlines, South Alabama showed it could also move the ball methodically. In the second quarter, PJ Martin capped an 18-play, 86-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, a possession that chewed up yards and clock in equal measure.

The Jaguars finished with 249 rushing yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. All three of their primary running backs — Martin, Keenan Phillips and Trae’von Dunbar — reached the end zone.

South Alabama has now topped 200 rushing yards in three of its five games this season. That kind of balance makes the deep passing game more dangerous, since defenses cannot commit extra players to stopping the run without leaving receivers in single coverage.

The offense carried its momentum out of the locker room, too. The Jaguars scored on their first two possessions of the second half to keep the game out of reach.

“I just think the guys are excited to go play,” head coach Major Applewhite said.

Damyrion Darby Leads Jaguars Defense

Junior cornerback Damyrion Darby was the standout on the defensive side. He forced the fumble that set up Lewis’ scoop-and-score touchdown in the opening minutes.

Darby later intercepted an Armenta pass, setting up a 37-yard field goal by Davis Little at the end of the first half. That kick sent South Alabama into halftime with a 31-14 lead.

Darby nearly came up with a second interception, but Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Marcellus Jackson delivered a hard hit as Darby went to catch the ball. Jackson was ejected for targeting, and Darby did not return to the game.

Applewhite indicated the decision to hold Darby out was a cautious one. “He’s great,” Applewhite said. “I think it [Darby not playing] was more precaution.”

Armenta threw for 355 yards and two touchdowns for the Warhawks, but Louisiana-Monroe could not close the gap that opened in the first two minutes.

Fans Brave the Weather

Rain fell shortly before kickoff, creating a gloomy setting for homecoming. There were no weather delays, however, and Applewhite made a point of thanking the fans who stuck with the team through the conditions.

Warhawks’ Losing Streak Reaches 13 Games

The loss was the 13th straight for Louisiana-Monroe under coach Bryant Vincent. The Warhawks’ last victory came on Sept. 27, 2025, against Arkansas State.

Louisiana-Monroe and South Alabama are both members of the Sun Belt Conference, which means Saturday’s result counts directly in the league standings. For the Jaguars, starting conference play with a win provides early footing in what is typically a competitive race.

Best Start Since 2022 and Most Points Since a Bowl Win

At 3-2, South Alabama is off to its best start through five games since 2022. That Jaguars team won four of its first five games and finished 10-3 under then-coach Kane Wommack.

The 52 points also represent the most South Alabama has scored against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent since the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, when the Jaguars beat Eastern Michigan 59-10 in Mobile.

That bowl victory holds a special place in program history. It was the first bowl win ever for South Alabama, and it was Wommack’s final game with the Jaguars before he left to become Alabama’s defensive coordinator. South Alabama then promoted Applewhite, who had been the team’s offensive coordinator, to head coach.

About Hancock Whitney Stadium

Saturday’s homecoming game was played at Hancock Whitney Stadium, South Alabama’s on-campus home since it opened in 2020. Before that, the Jaguars played home games off campus at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.

What’s Next: South Alabama at Arkansas State on Thursday

There is little time to celebrate. South Alabama faces a short week before traveling to Jonesboro, Arkansas, to take on Arkansas State on Thursday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

The Red Wolves are 2-3 and coming off a 23-20 loss at Louisiana on Saturday, a game decided on a last-second field goal.

Recent history in this series has not favored the Jaguars. Arkansas State has won the last two meetings with South Alabama, and both of those games were decided by field goals on the final play.

The quick turnaround will test South Alabama’s depth and recovery, particularly in the secondary, where Darby’s status will be worth watching after he sat out the rest of Saturday’s game as a precaution.

Key Numbers From Saturday

• Final score: South Alabama 52, Louisiana-Monroe 35
• Records: South Alabama 3-2 (1-0 Sun Belt); Louisiana-Monroe 0-5 (0-1 Sun Belt)
• Total offense: South Alabama 570 yards
• Rushing: South Alabama 249 yards, 5.6 yards per carry
• Jared Hollins: 14 completions, 321 yards, 3 touchdowns (career highs in yards and touchdowns)
• Anthony Eager: 4 catches, 168 yards, 2 touchdowns (career high in yards)
• Longest play: 72-yard touchdown pass from Hollins to Brendan Jenkins
• Defensive score: 21-yard fumble return touchdown by Mase Lewis
• Aidan Armenta (ULM): 355 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
• Next game: at Arkansas State, Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.