MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama scored the final 42 points after falling behind 6-3 in the first quarter and defeated Missouri S&T 45-6 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, improving to 5-0 this season and 12-0 in the football program’s history.
The Jaguars’ defense held the Miners to 154 total yards, including 71 rushing yards on 41 carries, while the offense rolled up 369 yards behind a balanced rushing attack and an efficient game from quarterback C.J. Bennett.
Early Field Goal and Quarterback Shuffle
Jordan Means opened the scoring with a career-long 36-yard field goal on South Alabama’s first possession, about two and a half minutes into the game. The drive covered 41 yards in six plays.
Starting quarterback Brennan Sim took the first four snaps of the drive and completed a 29-yard pass to Courtney Smith. On a scramble, Sim lowered his head for extra yardage, took a hard hit and had to leave the game. Myles Gibbon came on for third down, but his pass to Smith fell incomplete, and the Jaguars settled for the field goal.
After the South Alabama defense forced a punt, Sim returned for the next possession and completed his first throw to T.J. Glover for 14 yards. Two snaps later, Sim was sacked and fumbled, and Missouri S&T recovered at the USA 26.
Miners Take Brief Lead
Facing third-and-8 from the USA 24, Missouri S&T quarterback Steve Watson connected with Chad Shockley for 13 yards to the Jaguar 11. On the next play, Watson found Shockley again for an 11-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and the Miners led 6-3 with 5:15 remaining in the first quarter.
It would be the only points Missouri S&T scored.
Jaguars Answer Quickly
C.J. Bennett took over under center on South Alabama’s next drive. After a holding penalty wiped out an 8-yard run by Ralph Turner and pushed the Jaguars back to their own 31, Bennett hit Corey Waldon for a 42-yard gain to the Missouri S&T 27. Brandon Ross then ran for 13 yards and followed with a 14-yard touchdown run. Means added the extra point, and South Alabama led 10-6 with 3:10 left in the opening quarter.
The defense struck on the Miners’ next series. Enrique Williams sacked Watson for a 14-yard loss and forced a fumble, and Randon Carnathan scooped up the loose ball and returned it 8 yards for a touchdown. Means’ kick made it 17-6 with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter.
Missouri S&T then put together a nine-play, 25-yard drive that took 6:10 off the clock before punting. The kick was downed at the South Alabama 5.
Starting from deep in their own territory, the Jaguars moved the length of the field. Kendall Houston ripped off runs of 10 and 25 yards, Bennett found Waldon for 16 yards, and after a South Alabama timeout, Bryant Lavender broke a 38-yard run to the Missouri S&T 3. Houston scored on the next play, and Means’ extra point put the Jaguars ahead 24-6 with 7:28 left in the second quarter.
The defense forced a three-and-out in which the Miners lost 4 yards. Jereme Jones returned the ensuing punt 20 yards to the Missouri S&T 39, and South Alabama needed just three plays to score. Bennett ran for 6 yards and Ross added a 22-yard run to the 11, though Ross had to be helped off the field with an apparent knee injury. Houston finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown run, and Means’ kick made it 31-6 with 4:10 left in the half.
Defense Stops Fake Field Goal
After another Missouri S&T three-and-out, Bennett was sacked on third-and-10 and fumbled, with the Miners recovering at the Jaguar 31. Missouri S&T completed a 15-yard pass to the USA 16 but could not advance further. On fourth down, the Miners tried a fake field goal and gained only 3 yards before Justin Dunn made the stop.
Ellis Hill carried twice for 7 and 8 yards as South Alabama ran out the final 54 seconds of the first half.
Second-Half Scoring
The Jaguar defense forced a three-and-out to open the third quarter. Jones returned the punt 24 yards, and a face mask penalty on Missouri S&T moved the ball to the Miners’ 19. Gibbon completed a 14-yard pass to Smith to the 5, Santuan McGee gained 4 yards, and Gibbon ran in from a yard out. The extra point made it 38-6 with 12:28 to play in the third quarter.
South Alabama drove 54 yards in eight plays on a possession that spanned the third and fourth quarters, reaching the Missouri S&T 4 before facing fourth down at the 6. Lawson McGlon’s 23-yard field goal attempt went wide left after his plant foot slipped.
Later in the fourth quarter, Missouri S&T came up short on a third-and-2 run from its own 12. On the ensuing punt, a bad snap forced the punter to pick up the ball and run, and he was dropped for a 5-yard loss. McGee then carried four straight times for 3, 3, 3 and 7 yards, scoring the game’s final touchdown to make it 45-6.
By the Numbers
South Alabama rushed for 202 yards on 33 carries and threw for 167 yards. Missouri S&T was held to 71 rushing yards on 41 attempts, under two yards per carry, and 83 passing yards.
- Rushing: Brandon Ross 6 carries for 55 yards before leaving with the knee injury; Kendall Houston 4 for 49 yards and two touchdowns; Bryant Lavender 1 for 38; Ellis Hill 7 for 29; Santuan McGee 6 for 21 and a touchdown.
- Passing: C.J. Bennett 5-of-10 for 107 yards; Brennan Sim 2-of-2 for 43 yards; Myles Gibbon 2-of-4 for 17 yards.
- Receiving: Six Jaguars caught passes, led by Courtney Smith with three receptions for 73 yards and Corey Waldon with two for 58. T.J. Glover had one catch for 14 yards and Richard Ross one for 11.
- Defense: Enrique Williams had a career-high eight tackles and a forced fumble. Ben Giles had seven tackles and Justin Dunn six, with each recording two tackles for loss. Tim Harvey and Jake Johnson had five tackles apiece, and Ken Barefield and Alex Page had four each.
Jones on Defense, Quarterbacks
South Alabama head coach Joey Jones credited his defense for adjusting after the Miners’ early touchdown drive.
“I thought the defense played very well. Obviously, early they made a drive, but as always our coaches on the sideline made adjustments and our kids adjusted to what they were doing,” Jones said. “From that point on, they did a really good job. I was real proud of them today.”
Sim returned to the sideline after halftime without his shoulder pads. Jones said the starter “got dinged a little bit” and praised Bennett’s play in relief.
“C.J. came in and played well. It seems like each game that there is a quarterback who steps into the mix and plays well,” Jones said. “It’s more of a feel thing that we go with each game. I thought C.J. had a great game today.”
Road Trip Ahead
South Alabama now plays two straight road games, beginning with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Lamar in Beaumont, Texas, followed by a trip to UC Davis. The Jaguars then return home to face Georgia State.
Ross was reportedly scheduled to have an MRI on his knee Monday, leaving his status uncertain for the road swing.
“They know these upcoming weeks are going to be tough; we have to travel to Texas and California, and come back here and play Georgia State after that,” Jones said. “As competitors we’re looking forward to that. They’re excited about getting on the road, going on a six-hour bus trip and playing a very good Lamar football team.”
South Alabama, which began playing football in 2009, is in its second season under Jones as the program works toward FBS competition.
Update: Ross Out for Season With Torn ACL
Sophomore running back Brandon Ross suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the win over Missouri S&T and will miss the rest of the season. Kendall Houston will move into the starting role, with Ellis Hill providing relief.
Ross, who transferred to South Alabama from Memphis before last season, had 274 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries in five games this season. Houston has 259 yards and six touchdowns on 31 carries.
Ross is the second Jaguar to suffer a season-ending knee injury this year. Defensive back Darrow Fisher tore his ACL during preseason camp. South Alabama also enters a two-game road stretch after shuffling its offensive line because of injuries; quarterback Myles Gibbon missed a couple of games earlier this season with a knee injury, and Brennan Sim left the Missouri S&T game with a concussion.
