MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama opens Sun Belt Conference play Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium against Georgia Southern, which leads the league in scoring and rushing in its first season as a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
The game begins an eight-game run of conference games for South Alabama, which is coming off a loss to Mississippi State. It is the first Sun Belt game for Georgia Southern.
Georgia Southern’s Start
Georgia Southern lost 24-23 to NC State in its opener, beat Savannah State 83-9 while rushing for 599 yards and lost 42-38 to Georgia Tech last week on a touchdown in the final minute.
The Eagles run the triple option out of the shotgun formation.
Excluding the Savannah State game, Georgia Southern has scored 61 points and allowed 66 in its two games against FBS opponents. The Eagles have rushed for 529 yards on 85 carries, an average of 6.2 yards per carry, and have completed 23 of 39 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 19.0 yards per catch and 11.2 yards per attempt.
In those two games, Georgia Southern’s defense has allowed 521 rushing yards on 88 carries with seven rushing touchdowns, and opposing quarterbacks have completed 39 of 64 passes for 479 yards and seven touchdowns. The Eagles have six tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and six pass breakups in those games.
Georgia Southern’s punter has averaged 45.7 yards on seven punts with a long of 60 against NC State. Its kickoffs average 64.7 yards with nine touchbacks, and its kicker has made all four field goal attempts, with a long of 37.
South Alabama Through Two Games
South Alabama, coached by Joey Jones, has scored 26 points and allowed 48 in two games. The Jaguars have rushed for 243 yards on 77 attempts, 3.2 yards per carry, and have completed 43 of 80 passes for 449 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The South Alabama defense has allowed 352 rushing yards on 73 carries, 4.8 yards per carry, and opponents have completed 33 of 64 passes for 439 yards and four touchdowns. The Jaguars have eight tackles for loss, three sacks and 14 pass breakups. They have forced three fumbles, recovering two against Mississippi State, and have one interception.
Against Mississippi State, South Alabama had several dropped passes on offense and at least two dropped interceptions on defense.
Punter Brandon McKee averages 40.1 yards on 17 punts with a long of 51 and six downed inside the 20. Aleem Sunanon averages 54.8 yards per kickoff with two touchbacks. Sunanon has made a 26-yard field goal and had a 31-yard attempt blocked against Mississippi State.
Sun Belt Statistical Rankings
The following conference rankings include all of Georgia Southern’s games. South Alabama, Appalachian State, Idaho and Texas State have played two games; every other Sun Belt team has played three.
- Scoring offense: Georgia Southern leads the league at 48 points per game; South Alabama ranks last at 13.
- Scoring defense: South Alabama is tied for second at 24 points allowed per game; Georgia Southern is fourth at 25.
- Total offense: Georgia Southern is second at 550 yards per game, behind Texas State’s 569.5; South Alabama is 10th of 11 at 346.
- Rushing offense: Georgia Southern leads at 364.3 yards per game, nearly 70 more than any other team; South Alabama is eighth at 121.5.
- Passing offense: South Alabama is seventh at 224.5 yards per game; Georgia Southern is last at 185.7.
- Total defense: South Alabama is fifth at 395.5 yards allowed per game; Georgia Southern is seventh at 431.7.
- Rushing defense: South Alabama is third at 176.0 yards allowed; Georgia Southern is seventh at 202.7.
- Passing defense: South Alabama is fifth at 219.5 yards allowed; Georgia Southern is sixth at 229.0.
- Third-down offense: Georgia Southern leads at 56.7 percent; South Alabama is ninth at 40 percent.
- Third-down defense: Georgia Southern leads, allowing 31.8 percent; South Alabama is 10th at 50 percent.
- Penalties: South Alabama is the least-penalized team in the league with nine penalties for 42 yards, 21 yards per game; Georgia Southern is tied for fourth at 36.7 yards per game.
- Time of possession: South Alabama is second at 31:26 per game; Georgia Southern is eighth at 27:53.
