MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama returns home Saturday to host Louisiana Tech in its final non-conference game of 2022, a week after a last-second loss at UCLA in the Rose Bowl.
Close Call in Pasadena
South Alabama led UCLA 17-6 late in the first half and held a four-point lead at halftime. The Jaguars scored two touchdowns 17 seconds apart to take a 31-23 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bruins won on a field goal with two seconds left, handing South Alabama its first loss of the season.
The offensive line kept quarterback Carter Bradley from being sacked. Bradley completed 26 of 36 passes (72 percent) for 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception, his second of the season. La’Damian Webb rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, 7.8 yards per carry, his first 100-yard game at South Alabama. Jalen Wayne led the receivers with seven catches for 76 yards and will wear the honorary No. 5 jersey against Louisiana Tech.
UCLA was the first opponent this season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Jaguars. Quentin Wilfawn, Jamar Richardson, Brandon Crum and Lincoln Sefcik missed time with injuries during the game, and Trey Kiser and Ed Smith left but returned.
Jaguars by the Numbers
South Alabama averages 39 points, 469.7 total yards, 307.7 passing yards and 162 rushing yards per game. Nationally, the Jaguars rank 40th in total offense, 33rd in scoring offense, 64th in rushing, tied for 23rd in passing and 36th in turnover margin. Caullin Lacy is second on the team with 15 catches for 218 yards, and Devin Voisin is third with 13 catches for 125 yards and scored his first career touchdown at Central Michigan. Sefcik and DJ Thomas-Jones each have two catches for 28 yards.
The defense allows 21 points, 303.3 total yards, 208.7 passing yards and 94.7 rushing yards per game, ranking 34th nationally in total defense and 32nd against the run. Jaden Voisin, Devin’s twin brother, and Wilfawn lead the team with 17 tackles each. James Miller, Wy’Kevious Thomas and CJ Rias have the team’s three sacks, and AJ DeShazor has the only interception. Punter Jack Brooks averages 43.6 yards on 13 punts, and kicker Diego Guajardo is 4-for-4 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.
South Alabama has covered the point spread in each of its last five home games.
Louisiana Tech Under Sonny Cumbie
Louisiana Tech (1-2) is led by first-year head coach Sonny Cumbie, who spent the previous 12 years as an assistant in the Big 12. Cumbie began his college coaching career at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, working as a graduate assistant, receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator, then spent six seasons at TCU as co-offensive coordinator and offensive coordinator, coaching quarterbacks throughout. He returned to Texas Tech as offensive coordinator in 2021 and was named interim head coach.
The Bulldogs opened with a 52-24 loss at Missouri, beat FCS Stephen F. Austin 52-17 and lost 48-20 at No. 5 Clemson. Louisiana Tech won both previous meetings with South Alabama, 34-16 in Ruston in 2017 and 30-26 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. This is the Bulldogs’ first visit to Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Bulldogs Air Raid
Cumbie runs an Air Raid offense that often uses one running back with no tight end or one tight end while spreading the field. Louisiana Tech averages 32 points, 392.3 total yards, 287.7 passing yards and 104.7 rushing yards per game. The Bulldogs rushed for a combined 14 yards in their two losses and 300 against Stephen F. Austin.
Quarterback Parker McNeil has completed 41 of 76 passes for 650 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, and Matthew Downing is 21-of-38 for 197 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Tight end Griffin Hebert leads the team with 278 receiving yards and two touchdowns on nine catches, averaging nearly 93 yards per game. Tre Harris has a team-high 14 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Marquis Crosby leads the rushing attack with 227 yards and three touchdowns on 35 carries.
Bulldogs Defense
Defensive coordinator Scott Power came from Stephen F. Austin, where he had been defensive coordinator since 2018, after previous stops at Texas A&M-Commerce, Central Washington and Marian University. His scheme relies on the defensive line to free linebackers and defensive backs. Louisiana Tech has forced five turnovers and recorded 15 tackles for loss and four sacks, with linebacker Hugh Davis and defensive back Jaiden Cole each posting 1.5 sacks.
The Bulldogs allow 39 points, 461.3 total yards, 212.3 passing yards and 249 rushing yards per game. Missouri ran for 323 yards and Clemson for 280. Punter Austin McCready averages 42.3 yards, and kicker Jacob Barnes is 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 35.
South Alabama is about a 13-point favorite.
