MOBILE, Ala. — True freshman J.J. Keels returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for his first touchdown as a Jaguar and set up two other scores as South Alabama beat Mississippi Valley State 35-3 on Thursday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The game was played on a short week in cold, breezy conditions.
Keels Steps In on Returns
With Jereme Jones and B.J. Scott sidelined by injuries, Keels handled all of South Alabama’s return duties against the Delta Devils.
After the Jaguars’ defense forced an early punt, Keels fielded the kick on a bounce and returned it 45 yards to the Mississippi Valley State 2-yard line. Kendall Houston scored on the second play from there.
In the second quarter, Keels broke a 25-yard run before stepping out of bounds at the 1, and Houston again finished the drive with a touchdown.
Keels then took the opening kickoff of the second half the length of the field for a 100-yard touchdown.
“It was big for J.J. to come in there as a true freshman and make those types of plays,” South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said. “We lost B.J. and Jeremé, so we have gotten thin in our return game. I thought he stepped up and did really well. That [the kickoff return] was a big play in the game.”
Defense Holds Delta Devils to a Field Goal
Mississippi Valley State reached South Alabama territory several times, but penalties and mistakes stalled its drives, and the Jaguars’ defense held the Delta Devils to three points.
South Alabama’s defensive front spent much of the night in the backfield. Ben Giles had a career-high nine tackles, and Romelle Jones repeatedly pressured the quarterback.
The Jaguars also used new looks in their goal-line package and scored from it a couple of times. South Alabama played many reserves as well.
Jones Pleased With Execution
“I thought we played really sound in the first half,” Jones said. “The defense gave up a little yardage in between the 20s, but got stiff down there toward the goal line. The offense had a short field a couple of times, then we had an 80-plus yard drive in the first half, which is big. The special teams played well — the return game was good and we kicked the ball well. Overall I am real pleased with the game.”
Jones described his team as one that wins by avoiding mistakes.
“We are kind of a methodical football team, we don’t have big-play guys on offense,” Jones said. “J.J. came in and sparked us in the return game, and he had a couple of good runs. But we are the kind of team that if we don’t make mistakes and have a lot of penalties, we have a chance to beat a lot of people.”
Up Next
South Alabama has an open week before closing its season at home against Cal Poly on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., and the game will be shown locally on UTV44 and nationally on ESPN3.com.
