MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football practice on Tuesday was a grind, according to head coach Joey Jones, who said his players were worn down but still completed their work as the Jaguars prepare to visit Louisiana-Monroe, the only team without a loss in Sun Belt Conference play.
The Jaguars are coming off a 37-34 double-overtime victory over Florida Atlantic, the program’s first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent and its first Sun Belt victory. South Alabama blocked three Florida Atlantic field goal attempts in that game.
Jones: Team Must Fight Through Fatigue
Jones said the physical nature of the Florida Atlantic game and the length of the season had caught up with his players.
“We were a little tired today, a little beat up,” Jones said. “This is that point in the season where they’re waking up in the morning a good bit and they’re tired. They had a real physical game the other day.”
He added that the energy level was lower than he wanted, though the work got done.
“I didn’t think emotionally we brought much today,” Jones said. “We were out here and we kind of did what we were supposed to do, but one thing we’ve got to learn is we’ve got to fight through that. Football is a tough game and it teaches you a lot of lessons and you’ve got to fight through that and come to work. They came to work, but they’re just kind of tired and beat down right now.”
Fourth-Quarter Rally Against FAU
South Alabama erased a 14-point deficit against Florida Atlantic with consecutive touchdown drives of 80 and 85 yards in the fourth quarter. The Jaguars held the ball for 10 minutes, 30 seconds in the final period.
Jones described the comeback during his Monday press conference.
“When we were down 14 [points], I didn’t see quit in anybody on the sideline,” Jones said. “Once we got the ball and drove down and scored to get within seven, I knew we had a shot. The defense came out and forced a three-and-out, and then we got the ball back and drove 85 yards for a touchdown. What makes me feel good is that these guys have been working their tails off all this time, and to have some rewards on the field for their hard work meant a lot to me for them, and they deserved it.”
Scouting Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana-Monroe enters the matchup at 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt after a 43-42 overtime win against Western Kentucky. The Warhawks opened the season with a 34-31 overtime victory over Arkansas, which was ranked eighth at the time, and also defeated Tulane by 53 points in New Orleans. Their two losses came against Auburn in overtime and against Baylor by five points.
ULM leads the Sun Belt in both scoring offense and total offense, averaging 39.4 points and 471.3 yards per game.
“They’re great offensively, they present so many problems,” Jones said. “What they do is so different. They run a lot of empty, five wide receiver stuff and the quarterback is just uncanny in his ability to make plays. He just has an unbelievable knack for making plays, and he’s a big reason for why they are so successful offensively.”
Browning Leads Warhawks’ Attack
ULM quarterback Kolton Browning was named the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week. He leads the conference at 273.4 passing yards per game and has completed 168 of 275 passes, 61.1 percent, for 1,914 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Brent Leonard and Taverese Maye rank among the conference’s leading receivers. Leonard has 42 catches for 423 yards and three touchdowns, and Maye has 33 receptions for 337 yards and two scores. Je’Ronn Hamm and Colby Harper have 29 catches apiece, with Hamm leading the team at 493 receiving yards.
Running back Jyruss Edwards has rushed for 413 yards and six touchdowns and has added 12 receptions for 157 yards.
Kickoff Information
South Alabama and Louisiana-Monroe will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Malone Stadium in Monroe, Louisiana.
Update: Final Practice Before Departure
South Alabama held its final practice before the trip to Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday, a session of more than two hours in full pads, followed by position meetings. The team was scheduled to leave for Monroe on Friday morning.
“We got better each day,” Jones said. “Yesterday was much better and I thought today was even better. We finally got our legs back under and we’re not feeling as bumped and bruised as we were.”
Jones described the game as a measuring stick in the Jaguars’ first season of Sun Belt play. “We’re going to find out Saturday where we are,” he said. “We’re playing a great team. We’ll find out where we are as far as the top of the conference because there’s no doubt that they’re the top team in the league. Our kids are kind of eager to go see how we match up.”
Louisiana-Monroe’s two losses, to Auburn and Baylor, came by a combined 8 points.
