MOBILE, Ala. — Quarterback Brandon Bridge threw two touchdown passes and Trey Fetner ran for two scores as the Blue team defeated the Red team 33-24 in South Alabama’s annual Red-Blue JagDay spring game Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
Bridge completed 10 of 18 passes for 169 yards in the South Alabama spring game. Fetner carried six times for 35 yards, scoring the go-ahead touchdown just before halftime and the final touchdown as time expired.
Back-and-Forth First Half
The Blue team struck first when Bridge threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Sappington less than three minutes into the game.
The Red team answered on its next possession with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Ross Metheny completed passes of 20 and 14 yards to Corey Waldon, each for a first down, and finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jay Jones with less than five minutes left in the first quarter.
Jereme Jones caught a 36-yard touchdown pass with under seven minutes remaining in the half to put the Blue team back in front 14-7.
The final three minutes of the half produced three scores. Logan Gunn made a 41-yard field goal to pull the Red team within 14-10. Desmond LaVelle then intercepted a pass, setting up a four-play, 27-yard drive that Jay Jones finished with a two-yard touchdown run, giving the Red team its first lead at 17-14.
The Blue team responded with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that took 1:21. A 43-yard pass to Sappington moved the ball to the 2, and Fetner scored on a one-yard run with 32 seconds left in the half for a 20-17 Blue lead.
Blue Holds Off Red Rally
Bridge connected with Tryome Bivins on a 44-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter to extend the lead to 27-17.
Derric Burrell’s four-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter pulled the Red team within 27-24.
The Blue team took over with about five minutes remaining after the Red team turned the ball over on downs at its own 47-yard line. The Blue offense ran down the clock, moving to the 2-yard line, and Fetner scored on the final play to make it 33-24.
Statistical Leaders
The Blue team outgained the Red team 362-304 in total yards, with 256 of its yards coming through the air.
- Receiving: Bivins had a game-high 96 yards and a touchdown on two catches. Sappington caught three passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. Waldon and Jereme Jones each caught three passes, with Jones totaling 42 yards and a touchdown.
- Rushing: Julien Valentin led the Blue team with 39 yards on seven carries, and Dennis McMillian added 31 yards on four attempts.
- Red quarterbacks: The Red team’s quarterbacks combined to complete 17 of 27 passes for 160 yards and added 144 rushing yards. Grant Powell was 5-of-9 for 41 yards and ran for 40 yards, Kolt Peavey was 5-of-7 for 41 yards, and Metheny was 7-of-11 for 78 yards.
Defensive Standouts
Qudarius Ford, returning after missing all of last season with a knee injury, and Cordivido Grice each made seven tackles to lead the Blue defense. E.J. May had five tackles and two interceptions. Bryson James, Tyrell Pearson and Enrique Williams each had five tackles, and Pearson also intercepted a pass.
For the Red team, Eric Miller had six tackles, and David Hawkins added five tackles and an interception. Ceasare Johnson, who sat out all of last season because of a blood clot, made five tackles. LaVelle had four tackles to go with his interception. Romelle Jones recorded the only sack of the game.
Jones: More Depth, More Playmakers
“I thought it was the best spring we’ve ever had from start to finish,” South Alabama head coach Joey Jones said. “What I noticed today more than anything is we have more players who can make plays. As we started subbing twos and threes into the game a lot of them were making plays whereas in the past sometimes they weren’t. We have more depth.”
Jones said the offense played at a fast pace, while the defense was limited by the format. “The defense was a little hamstrung because we made them line up in one formation and they were in one coverage the whole time,” he said. “But that’s okay, no one will remember the score two years from now.”
Season Opener
South Alabama opens its 2013 season Thursday, Aug. 29, against Southern Utah at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Newcomers, including Kaleb Blanchard, will join the team for preseason camp this fall.
