MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama’s linebackers are looking for a complete game on defense as the Jaguars head to Lafayette to face Louisiana in a Sun Belt Conference matchup that carries real weight in the West Division race. Kickoff is 4 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.
Seniors Seidrion Langston and Jordan Williams and true freshman Xavious Anderson Jr. have become central to a defense that was uneven last week in a 35-20 loss to Louisiana Tech.
Strong start, rough first half
South Alabama’s defense showed its intent on the opening drive against Louisiana Tech, recording two sacks. The momentum did not hold: the Jaguars allowed four touchdowns in the first half. After halftime they tightened up, giving up one touchdown, which came after a fumble handed the Bulldogs the ball at the South Alabama 10-yard line.
Langston described the mentality he wants the group to play with in just a few words: “Kill. Simple kill.” Anderson, who recorded one of those sacks, summed up the defense’s identity as “hat on a hat, flying to the ball, being physical and getting turnovers.”
Linebackers from the Alabama-Georgia line
Anderson has climbed quickly. The true freshman from Hogansville, Georgia, has started most of the season and leads the Jaguars with three sacks. “I think just knowing what to do,” he said of his rise. “When my name was called, I knew the playbook.”
Langston, a Lanett native, is in his first year at South Alabama after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, and before that from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Anderson, Langston and linebacker Parker Shattuck, who is from LaGrange, Georgia, grew up within roughly an hour of one another near the Alabama-Georgia line. Langston believes that shared background feeds the group’s effort.
“It’s been cool being in the room with those guys, knowing we got kind of the same background,” Langston said. “It’s kind of like a motivation to go hard for one another.”
Senior Jordan Williams, a Russell County native and former walk-on, is tied for second on the team with 36 tackles.
Head coach Major Applewhite said getting younger players into games matters after the Jaguars lost veteran experience on defense. “It’s huge when you lose a lot of playing experience, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” he said. “You can gain that experience through eight weeks.”
Containing Lunch Winfield
The biggest task Saturday is slowing Louisiana quarterback Lunch Winfield. He has completed 130 passes for 1,452 yards and six touchdowns, and has carried 110 times for 470 yards and nine touchdowns, a dual-threat profile that tests linebackers in particular.
“There’s all those characteristics of a quarterback, but the number one thing that shows up with Lunch is he’s a great competitor,” Applewhite said. Anderson said the plan is straightforward: “He’s a runner, so we’re going to try to contain him. And ultimately everyone do their job to win the ball game.”
Week 10 notes
- Both teams need a response. South Alabama has lost to Marshall and Louisiana Tech, while Louisiana has not played since a loss to Southern Miss two weeks ago. Applewhite expects the layoffs and losses to fade once play starts. “Bye week, both teams coming off of a loss; all those things make for good theater,” he said. “But at the end of the day, once the ball is kicked off, it’s about how we’re playing that day.”
- A crowded middle of the West. South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State, Troy and Southern Mississippi are tied for second place in the Sun Belt West at 2-2 in conference play. Applewhite wants the team to ignore the math. “Our focus needs to be on us, and how we’re playing in all three phases,” he said.
- Last Louisiana opponent. This is the fifth and final Louisiana team South Alabama will face this season. The Jaguars are 2-2 against them so far, with wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe and losses to Tulane and Louisiana Tech.
For a broader look at the game, including the Jaguars’ offense and what Applewhite said about the team’s penalties, read our Louisiana game preview.
