MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama stayed unbeaten in its inaugural football season Saturday, opening with two long touchdown passes and rolling past Fork Union Military Academy 64-6 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The South Alabama win over Fork Union featured the passing attack head coach Joey Jones said he wanted to develop over the previous two weeks. The Jaguars threw for 321 yards, and receiver Courtney Smith became the first player in program history to record more than 100 receiving yards in a game.
Two Plays, Two Touchdowns
After the defense forced a three-and-out on Fork Union’s opening possession, freshman quarterback Myles Gibbon hit Smith for a 64-yard touchdown on South Alabama’s first play from scrimmage. The defense forced another three-and-out, and Gibbon and Smith connected again, this time for a 60-yard score. Smith had more than 100 receiving yards on just two plays.
A third straight Blue Devils three-and-out followed. South Alabama moved 36 yards in two plays before losing a fumble at the Fork Union 19, but the defense forced a fourth consecutive punt.
Brennan Sim then completed a 40-yard pass to Lamontis Gardner, and Brandon Ross scored on a 2-yard run on the next play. Michel Chapuseaux’s extra point missed, leaving South Alabama ahead 20-0 with about 4:30 left in the first quarter.
Defense Adds Points
On Fork Union’s next possession, Zach Brownell intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards, setting up a 24-yard Chapuseaux field goal for a 23-0 lead. Two plays later, the Jaguars forced a fumble, and Montavious Williams returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
South Alabama led 30-0 after one quarter and outgained Fork Union 217-8 in the period.
After another three-and-out, the Jaguars took over at the Fork Union 15 and scored in three plays on Santuan McGee’s 2-yard run for a 37-0 lead.
Fork Union picked up its first first down on its eighth possession, driving 31 yards in seven plays before turning the ball over on downs at the South Alabama 34. Sim then led an eight-play, 66-yard drive capped by his first career touchdown pass, to Anthony Mostella, for a 44-0 lead with 6:57 left in the half.
Jerron Mitchell ended Fork Union’s longest drive of the half with an interception he returned 36 yards with 1:07 remaining, and South Alabama took a 44-0 lead into the break.
Turner’s Historic Return
Ralph Turner opened the second half with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the first in South Alabama history. Lawson McGlon’s extra point made it 51-0.
Fork Union answered with a five-play, 76-yard touchdown drive, its only points of the game. A two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, leaving the score 51-6 with 12:49 left in the third quarter.
After Fork Union’s defense forced a punt, the Blue Devils started deep in their own territory and fumbled a bad snap. Clifton Crews fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown with just under 10 minutes left in the third, making it 57-6.
Following an exchange of punts, Fork Union drove 34 yards in nine plays but turned the ball over on downs at the South Alabama 47. On the next play, Nick Owens threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Kelly Vail for the final 64-6 margin.
By the Numbers
- Final: South Alabama 64, Fork Union 6
- South Alabama offense: 60 rushing yards, 321 passing yards, 13 first downs
- Fork Union offense: minus-22 rushing yards, 213 passing yards
- First quarter yardage: South Alabama 217, Fork Union 8
Gibbon completed 2 of 4 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Sim was 9 of 9 for 130 yards and a touchdown, and Owens went 3 of 4 for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Smith finished with three catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Gardner caught two passes for 73 yards, and Vail had one catch for 53 yards. Six other Jaguars also caught passes.
McGee ran for 39 yards and Ryan Scott for 25, each on five carries.
Erling Riis returned four punts for 50 yards, including a 44-yard return that set up a score. Turner added a 23-yard punt return to go with his kickoff return touchdown. Scott Garber punted twice for a 40-yard average, with both kicks downed inside the Fork Union 20.
Ken Barefield led the defense with five tackles. Romelle Jones and Bryson James each forced a fumble.
What They Said
“We came out and executed very well,” Joey Jones said. “The protection got better, and that’s where it all starts in the passing game. We had some wide open guys down the field on the first two passes, and Myles did a good job hitting Courtney. We just executed well.”
“We practiced it all week and I knew the first play was going to be to me, so I expected the ball and Myles threw a good one,” Smith said. “After the first one they told me they were going to throw it to me again, so I expected it again.”
“Coach stressed to us that he wanted to open up the passing game,” Gibbon said. “On the first two plays, I knew they wanted to hit something deep. They played the perfect defense for it, and it worked out. It’s one of those things where you drop back and everything just slows down. Although it was wide open, those are the passes quarterbacks hate throwing because you don’t want to overthrow them.”
“It’s been a stressful last four games for me because I haven’t really been touching the ball,” Turner said. “Once I got the ball the hole was wide open and I just ran.”
Fork Union head coach John Shuman said his staff expected South Alabama to throw deep early.
“We had seen in the paper that South Alabama was working on its passing game. As we got here and watched the pregame warm-up, we knew that they would try to take advantage of the long ball early, and they did. They came back out and did it again,” Shuman said. “Once you get down 14 points, you become one dimensional – we couldn’t run the ball. South Alabama did a great job on the defensive side, they called some great blitzes and used a good scheme against us.”
Jones credited his players’ approach in practice and acknowledged the visitors, who made a 15-hour bus trip to Mobile.
“I’m proud of the guys today. After the last two games, we’ve really stressed coming to work every day. We’re trying to teach these kids a life lesson, and if they’ll approach their work the right way then good things happen,” Jones said. “We probably out-manned the team we played, and we know that, but we played well – we didn’t play sloppy. The other team came in here and had a 15-hour bus ride, which I’m sure was a tough thing to do, so my hat is off to them for that. They had some really good athletes and good coaching. I think it was just a matter that our kids played well.”
Up Next
South Alabama hosts Milford Academy for homecoming Saturday, Nov. 7, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
