STATESBORO, Ga. — La’Damian Webb ran for a school-record 247 yards and four touchdowns, and South Alabama scored the final 21 points to beat Georgia Southern 38-31 on Saturday.
The Jaguars (7-2, 4-1 Sun Belt) trailed 14-0 in the first quarter and 31-17 in the third before rallying. Georgia Southern fell to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
Early Hole
Georgia Southern scored 41 seconds into the game when Carter Bradley’s pass on South Alabama’s second offensive play was tipped, intercepted and returned for a touchdown.
On the Eagles’ first offensive possession, Jalen White broke free down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown run on the fourth snap, giving Georgia Southern a 14-0 lead less than halfway through the opening quarter.
South Alabama answered with a drive capped by Bradley’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Wayne at the 6:56 mark. Georgia Southern, helped by two South Alabama penalties, responded with Kyle Vantrease’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Derwin Burgess for a 21-7 lead after one quarter.
Trading Points Before the Half
The Jaguars drove 74 yards to the 1-yard line as the first quarter ended, and Webb scored on the first play of the second quarter to make it 21-14.
Georgia Southern added a field goal at 10:17 of the second quarter, and Diego Guajardo answered with a field goal for South Alabama at 3:23.
Georgia Southern reached the South Alabama 35 in the final seconds of the half, and coach Clay Helton sent out the field goal unit for a 52-yard attempt with six seconds left. South Alabama coach Kane Wommack called timeout just before the snap, and Michael Lantz’s kick barely cleared the crossbar. On the retry, Charles Coleman III broke through and blocked the kick, keeping the halftime score at 24-17.
The Comeback
Georgia Southern pushed its lead to 31-17 in the third quarter. South Alabama responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive, and Webb finished it with three straight runs of 4, 3 and 5 yards for a touchdown that made it 31-24. Dontae Lucas was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the scoring play and did not return.
After forcing a punt, South Alabama lost a fumble when the ball bounced near returner Caullin Lacy, and Georgia Southern recovered at the Jaguars’ 15-yard line. Yam Banks intercepted Vantrease in the end zone on the next play for a touchback, his fifth interception of the season.
A 27-yard catch by Devin Voisin set up Webb’s third touchdown early in the fourth quarter, tying the game 31-31.
The South Alabama defense forced a punt after four plays, and a kick-catch interference penalty added 15 yards after Lacy fielded the ball at the 7. The Jaguars then drove 78 yards in seven plays, with Webb carrying on all but one of them, and he scored from 9 yards out with 5:50 remaining for South Alabama’s first lead.
Georgia Southern reached a fourth-and-5 at the South Alabama 47, but Jalen Jordan stopped the receiver two yards short of the line to gain. Webb then kept moving the chains as the Jaguars ran out the clock.
Webb Rewrites Record Book
One week after earning offensive player of the week honors, Webb carried 35 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns. His yardage and carries set South Alabama single-game records, and his four rushing touchdowns tied the school record. His longest run was 26 yards.
South Alabama outgained Georgia Southern 514-366, including 321 yards on the ground. The Jaguars converted 8 of 15 third downs and held the ball for 37:04. Georgia Southern was 4-of-12 on third down and finished with 88 rushing yards.
Statistical Leaders
Bradley completed 16 of 27 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Lacy caught three passes for 33 yards, Wayne had three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, and DJ Thomas-Jones had three receptions for 17 yards. Voisin (42 yards), Lincoln Sefcik (31) and Omni Wells (26) each caught two passes.
Braylon McReynolds ran for 42 yards on six carries and caught a 16-yard pass before leaving the game and being evaluated for a concussion. Todd Justice ran 30 yards on a fake punt.
Jordan led the defense with 10 tackles, eight solo. CJ Rias had 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
For Georgia Southern, Vantrease completed 26 of 45 passes for 278 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Burgess caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and Khaleb Hood added seven catches for 76 yards. White ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, and Gerald Green added 27 yards on five carries.
Up Next
South Alabama returns home to host Texas State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Hancock Whitney Stadium. The game is the Jaguars’ annual Hall of Fame game and will also feature Honor Band weekend and a Salute to Heroes.
