MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama hosts Sun Belt Conference Western Division leader Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in one of the Jaguars’ final two home games of the season. They are expected to be the last two games South Alabama plays at Ladd-Peebles, with the university’s new on-campus stadium on schedule to open in 2020.
Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+, with pregame and play-by-play coverage on 99.5 FM The Jag, 96.1 FM and the iHeartMedia app.
Jaguars Still Seeking First FBS Win
South Alabama (1-8, 0-5 Sun Belt) is searching for its first win over an FBS opponent this season after a narrow loss at Texas State last Saturday.
Head coach Steve Campbell said he believes the team will eventually break through. “Regardless of circumstance or whatever, just keep grinding and keep chopping wood because I know we’re going to get there,” Campbell said. “We’ve got really good young men on this football team, there’s good talent on this team.”
Against Texas State, redshirt freshman quarterback Desmond Trotter led an offense that produced 348 total yards, 184 rushing and 164 passing, and converted 6 of 14 third-down attempts. Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield credited Trotter with managing the game well and getting the offense into the right plays.
Defensively, the Jaguars allowed Texas State to convert several third-and-long situations, including a 27-yard completion on third-and-20.
Cajuns Lead League on Both Sides of the Ball
Louisiana-Lafayette (7-2, 4-1 Sun Belt) leads the conference in scoring offense at 38.3 points per game and scoring defense at 17.1 points per game. The Ragin’ Cajuns have allowed 10 total points over their last two games and have held four of nine opponents to 14 points or fewer. They are ranked 39th in the ESPN Football Power Index, four spots ahead of Appalachian State.
Running backs Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas have combined for 1,374 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns behind one of the conference’s top offensive lines. Quarterback Levi Lewis completed 26 of 30 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns in Louisiana’s win over Coastal Carolina. The Cajuns also use a variety of formations and personnel groupings.
Louisiana head coach Billy Napier kept his team focused during its open week. Napier said the team watched the 7-1 New Orleans Saints lose to the 1-7 Atlanta Falcons and discussed the need to play its best every week.
The Cajuns enter as 28.5-point favorites and are 8-1 against the spread this season. Louisiana-Lafayette is in contention for a spot in the first Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
