MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama set a Sun Belt Conference single-game scoring record Thursday night, beating Northwestern State 87-10 at Hancock Whitney Stadium for its first win of the season and the first under head coach Major Applewhite.
The Jaguars (1-2) scored on special teams, offense and defense, forced four turnovers and led 52-10 at halftime against the Demons (0-3). The game was played on a short week and under the threat of a hurricane in the region.
Fast Start
South Alabama took the lead 1:36 into the game when Jamaal Pritchett returned the opening punt 62 yards for a touchdown.
On Northwestern State’s next possession, Jaden Voisin intercepted a pass from JT Fayard. Quarterback Gio Lopez, who started after missing the previous game with a turf toe injury, hit Jeremiah Webb for a 39-yard touchdown on the Jaguars’ first offensive snap. South Alabama led 14-0 before the four-minute mark of the first quarter, having held the ball for just eight seconds.
A 28-yard field goal by Laith Marjan put the Jaguars ahead 24-3 in the first quarter. Northwestern State answered with its only touchdown of the night, as Fayard connected with Myles Kitt-Denton on a screen pass that went 75 yards.
Pulling Away
South Alabama scored four touchdowns in the second quarter to take its 52-10 halftime lead, then added four more in the third quarter. One of the third-quarter scores came on an interception return for a touchdown by redshirt sophomore Chrystyile Caldwell.
The coaching staffs agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to six minutes. Redshirt freshman Jarvis Durr still added a rushing touchdown to close the scoring.
Records Fall
The 87 points are the most ever scored by a South Alabama team. The previous program record was 64 points, a total the Jaguars reached three times against Division II or NAIA opponents in the program’s early seasons. The output also surpassed the 59 points South Alabama scored against an FBS opponent in last season’s 68 Ventures Bowl.
The total is a new Sun Belt Conference record, eclipsing the 83 points scored by Arkansas State against Texas Southern in 2008 and by Georgia Southern against Savannah State in 2014.
South Alabama Statistics
Lopez played only one possession in the second half and finished 15-of-19 passing for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
Devin Voisin led the receivers with 47 yards on three catches. DJ Thomas-Jones caught three passes for 34 yards and two touchdowns, while Webb and Pritchett each had a touchdown reception.
True freshman Fluff Bothwell ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, an average of 20.4 yards per carry. Kentrel Bullock added 102 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Bothwell and Bullock became the fourth pair in school history to each rush for more than 100 yards in the same game.
PJ Martin ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on six carries, and Durr scored the final rushing touchdown.
Pritchett finished with 124 punt return yards and led the team with 146 all-purpose yards, two more than Bothwell’s 143.
Defensively, Maurice Strong Jr. had seven tackles, four solo, with two tackles for loss and a sack. Jaden Voisin recorded five tackles, three solo, and an interception. Freshman Amarion Fortenberry and Caldwell also had interceptions, and Julian Demby recovered a fumble.
Northwestern State Statistics
Fayard completed 9 of 23 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Kitt-Denton caught three passes for 80 yards and the touchdown, and Twon Hines had three receptions for 59 yards.
Zay Davis led the Demons on the ground with 32 yards on nine carries, and Kennieth Lacy added 14 yards on 10 carries. Christian Williams had six tackles, four solo, and Caesar Magee III added five solo tackles.
What They Said
“I’m proud of the way our guys played, the way they responded coming off a loss,” Applewhite said. “In a short week, the staff did an outstanding job. I know people say that a lot, it sounds cliché, but they did. Our practices were good, we went a little bit more Wednesday that we normally do the day before a game and there was no complaining. I was proud of the guys and the way the coaches got them to play today.”
“It was definitely a big win for us to get the ball rolling and move on to the next game and keep it rolling,” Pritchett said. “I don’t think I’ve ever been on a team that scored 87 points, even in basketball.”
Up Next
South Alabama has a full week to prepare for its Sun Belt opener at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
