MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama rallied from a 20-0 deficit but fell 20-18 to Louisiana on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium when Diego Guajardo’s 37-yard field goal attempt with 1:06 remaining drifted just outside the right upright.
The loss was the first of the season for South Alabama (3-1, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) in its league opener. Louisiana improved to 3-1 and 2-0 in the Sun Belt.
Ragin’ Cajuns Build Early Lead
Louisiana’s Chris Smith returned the opening kickoff to the South Alabama 13, and Smith scored a few plays later for a 7-0 lead with less than a minute elapsed. After a Jaguar three-and-out, the Ragin’ Cajuns covered the field in four running plays, with gains of 13, 8 and 14 yards before quarterback Levi Lewis ran 22 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 11:10 left in the first quarter.
The South Alabama defense held at its 23 late in the quarter, and Nate Snider’s 43-yard field goal attempt went wide right. Early in the second quarter, a fake punt by Jack Brooks lost 3 yards and gave Louisiana the ball at the Jaguar 31. Two Emani Bailey runs produced a touchdown, and after Snider missed the extra point, Louisiana led 20-0 with 11:23 left in the half.
South Alabama answered before halftime. Bryan Hill carried the load on the ground and Jake Bentley connected with Jalen Wayne to move the Jaguars downfield, and Hill scored on third-and-goal from the 1. Guajardo’s extra point was blocked, leaving the score 20-6 with 1:33 left in the half.
Second-Half Rally
Bentley’s 49-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert keyed the Jaguars’ first drive of the third quarter, and Hill finished it with a 2-yard touchdown run. Guajardo’s extra point attempt missed to the right, and South Alabama trailed 20-12 with 4:20 left in the third quarter.
After a defensive three-and-out, a direct snap to up back Keith Gallmon on a punt formation went for 38 yards to the Louisiana 13. Bentley ran for a touchdown with 12:51 to play. On the two-point try, Bentley was pressured, rolled left and was sacked, leaving South Alabama behind 20-18.
Late Chances Slip Away
Taking over at their own 20 with 9:58 left, the Jaguars struck quickly when Bentley found Tolbert for a 61-yard completion to the Louisiana 13. Facing fourth-and-1 at the 4, head coach Kane Wommack kept the offense on the field. The snap to Bentley was low and rolled on the ground, and after picking it up and rolling right, Bentley’s throw to a diving Lincoln Sefcik fell incomplete. Louisiana took over at its own 4 with 6:20 remaining.
South Alabama got the ball back at its 35 with 3:20 left. Bentley hit Wayne for 34 yards on the second play of the drive, and Terrion Avery positioned the ball on the left hash at the 19 with 1:11 remaining. Guajardo’s 37-yard attempt narrowly missed to the right.
Two missed extra points and the failed two-point conversion left points on the field for the Jaguars.
By the Numbers
South Alabama outgained Louisiana 387-283 and held the ball for 36:47. The Jaguars rushed for 144 yards and passed for 243. They converted 6 of 17 third downs and 3 of 5 fourth downs. The South Alabama defense held Louisiana to 58 passing yards and 2-of-10 on third down; the Ragin’ Cajuns converted their only fourth-down attempt.
- Jake Bentley: 19 of 29 for 243 yards.
- Bryan Hill: 81 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
- Keith Gallmon: 38 yards on one carry.
- Terrion Avery: 27 yards on 10 carries.
- Jalen Tolbert: six catches for a game-high 143 yards.
- Jalen Wayne: five catches for 56 yards.
- Caullin Lacy: five catches for 19 yards.
For Louisiana, Bailey ran for 81 yards on seven carries and Lewis added 61 yards on 10 carries. Lewis completed 9 of 20 passes for 49 yards, and Chandler Fields completed his only attempt for 9 yards. Louisiana finished with 225 rushing yards.
Up Next
South Alabama travels to San Marcos, Texas, to face Texas State on Saturday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
