MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama football’s passing game threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns in Friday’s second spring scrimmage, a week after managing 86 passing yards in the program’s first scrimmage.
The Jaguars are preparing for their inaugural season in 2009 under head coach Joey Jones.
Smith Leads Receivers
Courtney Smith caught six passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Frank Walker and Lim Windham each had three receptions, and Danzel Harris and Erling Riis caught two apiece. Thirteen other Jaguars also caught passes.
“We have some playmakers out there, and Courtney had a great day today,” Jones said. “He really stepped up, not just with the touchdown but catching a couple of slant patterns too.”
Quarterbacks Avoid Turnovers
The quarterbacks threw 47 passes without an interception. Matt Saucier completed 16 of 26 for 216 yards and three touchdowns, and Anthony Burgess was 11-of-21 for 140 yards and a touchdown. The offense also lost no fumbles after giving up three in the first scrimmage.
“The defense was bringing a lot of pressure, we had to throw the ball,” Saucier said. “Overall, the offense did very well today. We’re way ahead of where we thought we would be at this point in the spring, we’ve learned so many plays over the last three weeks.”
“We’re just trying to get our quarterbacks a little more confidence,” Jones said. “They’ve gotten better, but there’s still a long way to go throwing the football down the field. We want to give all of them, as well as our wide receivers, a fair chance to evaluate everyone fairly.”
A More Game-Like Format
In the first scrimmage, the first- and second-team offenses ran eight-play series, with each series ending after the eighth snap regardless of down and distance. Friday’s scrimmage was set up to more closely resemble a game, with each offensive unit staying on the field until the defense ended the possession.
First-Team Offense
The first-team offense, led by Saucier, gained 160 yards on its first five drives. Saucier and Smith connected for 40 yards on the first play of the scrimmage and for a 60-yard touchdown on the first play of the unit’s second possession.
The first team moved inside the defense’s 30-yard line on two of its next three drives. Anthony Mostella finished a 45-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run on third-and-6. Saucier threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Turner to cap a three-play red zone drive, and later hit Taylor Noon for a 32-yard touchdown while rolling out of the pocket to finish a seven-play, 50-yard series.
Second-Team Offense
The second-team offense opened with a 10-play, 30-yard possession before going three-and-out on its next two drives. The unit totaled 62 yards on 22 plays before the red zone period.
Burgess found Donte Rome open for a 30-yard touchdown pass after the defender fell. On the next possession, which began at the defense’s 20-yard line, Lawson McGlon made a 29-yard field goal. The second team then put together a 60-yard scoring drive that included a 44-yard completion from Burgess to Gardner and ended with Burgess sneaking in from the 1.
Defense Tightens Against the Run
Justin Dunn led all players with nine tackles. Tim Harvey had seven, Chris Cooke and Richard Courtney had six each, and five other players had five apiece. Cooke and Sean Greenwood were each credited with 1 1/2 tackles for loss.
After allowing 230 rushing yards in the first scrimmage, the defense gave up 76 yards on 50 carries Friday. Marquis Chapel led the ground game with 27 yards on 10 carries, Santuan McGee added 20 and Richard Ross had 18.
“Earlier in the week we were running the ball well, but that dropped off today,” Jones said. “Our backs are a little dinged up — I’m not making any excuses for them, but they weren’t 100 percent today and we didn’t block as well for them either.”
Final Week of Spring
Offsides penalties increased as the scrimmage went on.
“Overall, I thought the intensity was great,” Jones said. “We’re still making mistakes that will get you beat, like putting the ball on the ground or jumping offsides defensively. But, I’m real pleased with their effort and they have gotten better.”
South Alabama returns to Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Monday to begin its final week of spring practice. The spring will conclude with a final scrimmage at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 10.
