MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama did not let up in practice this week after winning the first football game in program history.
The Jaguars beat Hargrave Military Academy 30-13 on Saturday. Head coach Joey Jones said he had been concerned the team might lose focus and intensity afterward. Instead, he said the players carried the energy from the win into practice.
Structure of Wednesday’s Practice
Wednesday’s practice started with about 15 minutes of special teams work, followed by about 30 minutes of position drills. The offense then spent 10 minutes on recognizing and picking up blitzes and 15 minutes on skeleton passing drills.
The team moved into situational work after that, including about 15 minutes of red-zone drills with possessions starting at the 20- or 25-yard line.
Red-Zone Results
Eli Smith finished the first red-zone possession with a 2-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal. On the next series, quarterback Myles Gibbon threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Smith in the left corner of the end zone.
The defense then forced a field goal attempt, which was missed. Gibbon came back with a touchdown pass to Kelly Vail on a crossing route, with Vail reaching the left pylon. Another defensive stop led to a second missed field goal attempt. Brennan Sim also threw a touchdown pass during the period.
Reserves Get Live Work
Practice closed with a 20-minute scrimmage for the second- and third-string players, part of the staff’s effort to build experience and depth.
Zach Rone sacked Sim twice on the first possession, forcing a three-and-out. Sim led the offense into the red zone on the next drive. Eli Smith opened it with a 9-yard run for a first down, and Sim completed passes of 21 and 7 yards to Donte Rome for two more first downs. A 2-yard run by Jeremy Pacillo moved the ball to the 18-yard line, but after an incomplete pass, Eddy Cabrera intercepted a throw to end the drive at the 5.
The defense forced another three-and-out with a tackle for loss, a sack and a pass breakup on third-and-16.
On the final series, Gabe Graham hit Josh Dees for a 12-yard gain and a first down at the offense’s 49-yard line. A 3-yard pass to Rome got the offense across midfield, but a sack on fourth down ended the day.
Jones Pleased With Effort
“Practice has been really good, we’ve come out here twice and got after it,” Jones said. “We’ve tried to keep the intensity level up, and they have done well responding to that. I’ve been real surprised, to be honest, because when you’re three weeks away from a game right after a big win you expect a letdown – they haven’t done that.”
Jones added that the players would like to be playing this Saturday, but they have not let that show in practice.
The staff is using a practice schedule similar to the one it followed in preseason camp. “We feel that the format is a good for learning in practice,” Jones said. “We change things up with the situations that we cover, but we feel that it is a format we want to use most of the time.”
Jones said the scrimmage for younger players will continue. “We’re trying to get our young kids to watch film, to teach them and let them learn,” he said. “We’re going to let them go again tomorrow. We feel that we have a good hour and 45 minutes to practice with the older guys, and since the younger guys are working hard as well this gives them 20 minutes to get out there for live action.”
Up Next
South Alabama practices Thursday afternoon, with a tentative scrimmage set for Friday, and then has the weekend off. The Jaguars’ next game is Saturday, Sept. 26, against Army Prep at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
