MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama built a 20-point lead through three quarters and then recovered two onside kicks in the closing minutes to hold off UT-Martin 33-30 in its homecoming football game Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Jaguars led 33-13 late in the third quarter before the Skyhawks scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth.
First-Half Control
South Alabama scored on its opening drive and controlled the first half statistically, outgaining UT-Martin 239 yards to 64 and holding the ball for more than 21 minutes before halftime. The Jaguars possessed the ball for 11:48 of the second quarter alone.
That quarter included two long, clock-consuming drives. The first covered 80 yards in nine plays and took 5:05 for a touchdown. The next went 62 yards in 12 plays over 4:31, reaching the UT-Martin 4-yard line before Jordan Means kicked a field goal as time expired in the half.
For the game, South Alabama held the ball for 38:02, compared with 21:58 for UT-Martin.
Third-Quarter Turnovers
South Alabama converted a turnover into a touchdown in the third quarter. Gabe Loper intercepted a deflected pass thrown by Derek Carr and returned it 27 yards, and Kendall Houston ran 16 yards for a touchdown on the next play.
UT-Martin answered with a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that made it 23-13 with 6:02 left in the third quarter. The Jaguars responded with a two-play, 42-yard drive. Quarterback C.J. Bennett completed a 40-yard pass to Corey Besteda to the UT-Martin 2-yard line, and Houston later scored from 1 yard out to make it 30-13 with 5:07 left in the period.
On the Skyhawks’ next possession, Alex Paige forced a fumble by Tevi Barksdale and recovered it at the UT-Martin 22-yard line. South Alabama settled for a 32-yard field goal by Means, extending the lead to 33-13 with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter.
UT-Martin Rally
After both teams went three-and-out, UT-Martin drove 40 yards in five plays to the South Alabama 21 and kicked a field goal. South Alabama took over with 12:22 to play, picked up one first down and ran 3:49 off the clock before punting.
The Skyhawks then put together a 13-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that took 4:39 and cut the margin to 33-23 with 3:54 left. South Alabama recovered the ensuing onside kick but gained only 6 yards on three Houston runs before punting, giving UT-Martin the ball with 2:07 remaining.
UT-Martin drove 74 yards in eight plays and 1:45 to score again, making it 33-30. The Jaguars recovered a second onside kick with 22 seconds left, and one kneel-down ended the game.
Individual Statistics
Houston led all rushers with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Demetre Baker added 51 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Bennett completed 12 of 19 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.
Besteda caught three passes for 64 yards and the Jaguars’ touchdown reception. Lamontis Gardner had three catches for 40 yards, and Kevin Helms added two receptions for 44 yards.
Scott Garber punted seven times for a 43.4-yard average, including a 64-yarder. Means made field goals of 21 and 32 yards but had an extra-point attempt blocked.
Jones Comments
“We played really good football for three quarters. Had we not done that, we would have lost the ball game,” head coach Joey Jones said. “There were a lot of positives in this game, so I was real proud of the way we came out ready to play.”
Jones also credited the Skyhawks. “They are very well-coached and they never quit,” he said.
South Alabama plays its final road game of the 2011 season next Saturday against Georgia State at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Central, with pregame coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. on WNSP 105.5 FM.
