RUSTON, La. — South Alabama trailed Louisiana Tech by a single point entering the fourth quarter Saturday, but the Bulldogs scored the game’s final 17 points to win 34-16.
The loss dropped the Jaguars to 1-4. Louisiana Tech improved to 3-2.
Offensive Staff Shakeup
The game capped an eventful week for the South Alabama program. On Monday morning, head coach Joey Jones announced that offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent had been relieved of his duties. Later that day, Jones said Richard Owens would take over as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and Chase Smith would coach the offensive line and tight ends.
Quick Start for the Jaguars
South Alabama’s defense set the tone on Louisiana Tech’s opening series, forcing a fumble that the Jaguars recovered at the South Alabama 16. Nigel Lawrence forced the fumble. The offense needed only three plays to cover the 84 yards: Xavier Johnson ran for 8 yards and then 47 yards, and quarterback Cole Garvin hit Jamarius Way for a 29-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
Louisiana Tech answered with a scoring drive capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass from J’Mar Smith to Teddy Veal. After a South Alabama three-and-out, the Bulldogs scored again to lead 14-7 with 4:18 left in the first quarter. A 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter made it 17-7.
Patterson Field Goals Keep It Close
South Alabama drove to the Louisiana Tech 10 on its next possession, but Garvin was intercepted in the end zone and the ball was returned to the 1-yard line. The Jaguar defense held, forcing a punt on third-and-15, and the offense drove to the Bulldogs’ 9 before Gavin Patterson kicked a field goal to make it 17-10 with 4:48 left in the half.
After a 25-yard punt, South Alabama took over at its own 45 with 2:47 left in the half. The Jaguars moved to the Louisiana Tech 24, and Patterson made another field goal with two seconds left to cut the halftime deficit to 17-13.
Louisiana Tech drove to the South Alabama 26 on the first possession of the second half but missed a field goal wide right. Garvin then led the Jaguars into Bulldog territory, and when the drive stalled at the 29, Patterson connected on a career-long 46-yard field goal to make it 17-16 with 5:26 left in the third quarter.
Bulldogs Close It Out
A Corliss Waitman punt to open the fourth quarter pinned Louisiana Tech at its own 10, but the Bulldogs went 90 yards in seven plays. Smith finished the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Hardy for a 24-16 lead with 12:17 to play.
After another South Alabama three-and-out, Waitman’s punt put Louisiana Tech at its own 11. Smith’s passing and a facemask penalty on Taji Stewart helped the Bulldogs move downfield, and the South Alabama defense held them to a field goal and a 27-16 lead with 4:18 left.
Facing fourth-and-3 from their own 27 on the next possession, the Jaguars went for it, but a Garvin pass intended for Johnson was dropped. Louisiana Tech needed one play to score, as Boston Scott ran 27 yards for a touchdown. South Alabama’s final possession ended in a punt, and the Bulldogs ran out the clock.
Statistics
South Alabama gained 333 total yards, 98 of them rushing. Garvin, making his first start in three weeks after being injured on the first possession against Oklahoma State on Sept. 8, completed 21 of 45 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Johnson ran for 89 yards on 12 carries, falling short of the yardage he needed to break the school record for career rushing yards. Way led the Jaguars with five catches for 67 yards and the team’s only touchdown, and Sam Harris added five receptions for 59 yards. Four other South Alabama players caught passes.
Louisiana Tech totaled 479 yards, including 317 passing on 24-of-38 attempts. Smith threw three touchdown passes without an interception and completed passes to eight different receivers. Veal led all receivers with five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. Scott led the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with 76 yards and a touchdown on six carries.
South Alabama recorded three sacks of Smith, all in the third quarter. Jimmie Gipson and Chris Henderson had one each, and Tyree Turner and Finesse Middleton shared the third.
Up Next
South Alabama has about 10 days to prepare for its next game, against Sun Belt Conference rival Troy, which opens a stretch of seven conference games to close the regular season.
