LINCOLN, Neb. — South Alabama outgained No. 24 Nebraska and held the ball for more than 34 minutes Saturday, but three Cornhusker touchdowns by the defense and special teams carried Nebraska to a 35-21 win in the season opener for both teams.
The Jaguars trailed by just 14-7 at halftime and pulled within a touchdown in the third quarter before Nebraska scored on the first play of the fourth.
A Close First Half
South Alabama went into the locker room down one score after Jalen Thompson partially blocked a late Nebraska field goal attempt. Quarterback Cephus Johnson accounted for the Jaguars’ first-half touchdown with the team’s only rushing score of the game.
Two Quick Nebraska Scores
Nebraska took control early in the third quarter. On third-and-8, Eric Lee Jr. stepped in front of a Johnson pass and returned the interception 58 yards for a touchdown with 13:11 left in the period.
South Alabama went three-and-out on its next possession. Jack Brooks’ 49-yard punt was fielded by JD Spielman, who avoided the first tackler and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown, giving Nebraska its second score in less than two minutes and a 28-7 lead.
Jaguars Answer
South Alabama responded with two third-quarter touchdowns. Spielman muffed a punt that the Jaguars recovered at the Nebraska 13, and four plays later Johnson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Davyn Flenord on a tunnel screen.
AJ DeShazor then intercepted a pass at the South Alabama 24. Tra Minter’s catch on a wheel route down the left sideline moved the Jaguars into the red zone, and Khameron Taylor caught a 13-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-21.
Fumble Return Seals It
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Johnson was hit from behind and fumbled, and Alex Davis recovered in the end zone for a Nebraska touchdown with 14:53 remaining.
South Alabama had a chance to get back within a score when Devin Rockette recovered a Dedrick Mills fumble at the Nebraska 49. The Jaguars drove to the 12, but Johnson’s pass to Kawaan Baker near the 2 was thrown behind him, deflected off Baker’s hands and was intercepted by Cam Taylor, who returned it 48 yards to midfield.
By the Numbers
South Alabama led in nearly every team category:
- Total yards: South Alabama 314, Nebraska 276
- Passing yards: South Alabama 231, Nebraska 178
- First downs: South Alabama 19, Nebraska 15
- Total plays: South Alabama 79, Nebraska 66
- Time of possession: South Alabama 34:13, Nebraska 25:47
- Rushing yards: Nebraska 98, South Alabama 83
Johnson completed 19 of 34 passes for 231 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and was sacked four times. He ran 18 times for a net of nine yards and a touchdown. Tylan Morton entered briefly when Johnson lost his helmet and threw an interception.
Baker caught four passes for 59 yards and ran five times for 27 yards. Cade Sutherland had four catches for 53 yards, and Minter caught five passes for 47 yards and led the team in rushing with 37 yards on 10 carries.
The South Alabama defense held Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez to 13-of-22 passing for 178 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and to six rushing yards on 13 carries, a total that included a big loss on a snap over his head. Mills led Nebraska with 45 rushing yards on 15 carries, and Washington added 39 yards on six carries after sitting out the first half. Jack Stoll caught three passes for 66 yards, Robinson had three for 33 and Spielman had two for 36.
Up Next
South Alabama opens its home schedule Saturday, Sept. 7, against Jackson State at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
