MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama heads into an open week after a 42-35 overtime loss at Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, a game in which the Jaguars rallied to tie in the final minute but could not convert a last-second field goal or answer the Warhawks’ overtime touchdown.
The South Alabama Louisiana-Monroe game matched the Jaguars against a team that entered at 2-6 and had been outscored 110-27 over its previous two games. The Warhawks started freshman quarterback Caleb Evans, who repeatedly completed passes over the middle of the field.
Injuries Mount
South Alabama played without Kalen Jackson, a key part of the middle of its defense, and has lost six defensive linemen for the season. The Jaguars are also without their starting left guard for the rest of the year and played Saturday without one of their top cornerbacks. Quarterback Dallas Davis is dealing with turf toe, running back Xavier Johnson has been playing through an injury, and the team’s leading tackler has also been playing hurt.
Offense Piles Up Yards
The Jaguars finished with 516 yards of offense, including 209 on the ground, but were penalized 12 times for 83 yards.
Trailing late, South Alabama drove 80 yards in six plays and 1:08, tying the game with 50 seconds remaining. Louisiana-Monroe moved to the South Alabama 39-yard line on its final possession of regulation before Jeremy Reaves intercepted Evans at the USA 31 and returned the ball to the ULM 33 with five seconds left.
Gavin Patterson, whose long field goal this season is 40 yards and who is 1 of 4 from 40 to 49 yards, attempted a 50-yarder for the win. The kick was blocked, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime
Louisiana-Monroe had the first possession of overtime. South Alabama’s defense forced a third-and-1 at the 16, but an offsides penalty gave the Warhawks a first down, and they went on to score a touchdown.
On South Alabama’s possession, Johnson ran for three yards, and two incomplete passes followed. A false start turned fourth-and-7 into fourth-and-12, and Louisiana-Monroe sent a blitz up the middle that sacked Davis to end the game.
Jones Critical of Effort
Head coach Joey Jones said after the game that his team did not come ready to play and that the Jaguars had a lot to work on during the open week.
Bowl Picture
South Alabama returns to action Nov. 19 against Presbyterian and also has games remaining against Idaho and New Mexico State. Under NCAA rules, a win over Presbyterian would not currently count toward bowl eligibility because the Jaguars already have a victory over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent this season. South Alabama plans to appeal to the NCAA on that point.
South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference and plays its home games at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile.
