MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama returns to the field Saturday for the first time in 23 days when the Jaguars open Sun Belt Conference play against Texas State at Hancock Whitney Stadium, still looking for their first win in the new stadium.
Kickoff is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The game will be televised on ESPNU, with radio coverage on Sports Talk 99.5 FM, 96.1 FM The Rocket and the iHeartRadio app. South Alabama is a 2.5-point favorite.
The Jaguars (1-2, 0-0 Sun Belt) last played Sept. 24, a 42-10 loss to UAB. Texas State is 1-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
COVID-19 Pause and Reset
After the UAB game, several South Alabama players tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the postponement of the Oct. 3 rivalry game against Troy. That game has been rescheduled for Dec. 12. Oct. 10 was already an open date on the Jaguars’ schedule.
During the week leading up to the open date, the coaching staff began getting players back, meeting in small position groups and focusing on conditioning and fundamentals. The team returned to full-squad workouts in pads last Friday and Saturday after going roughly a week and a half to two weeks without practicing in pads.
Quarterback Desmond Trotter is expected back, with his injured shoulder reported to be close to 100%. The Jaguars have also reportedly tried new combinations on the offensive line as players return to health, and offensive lineman Hadon Merchant is expected to return.
Series at the Bottom of the Standings
Texas State has a combined record of 14-51 over the past five and a half seasons. In recent years, the loser of the South Alabama-Texas State game has finished at the bottom of the Sun Belt standings, and the home team has won the last few meetings.
Texas State Offense
The Bobcats rely primarily on the pass and have used two quarterbacks this season. Brady McBride won the starting job in fall camp and started the opener against SMU. He has completed 55 of 96 passes for 549 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. When McBride was unavailable for the next two games, Tyler Vitt took over. Vitt has completed 40 of 64 passes for 602 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions, and he has rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Jeremiah Haydel leads the receivers with 18 catches for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Jah’Marae Sheread has 15 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown. Marcell Barbee and Trevis Graham Jr. each have 11 catches; Barbee has 173 yards and four touchdowns, and Graham has 120 yards. Eight other Bobcats have caught passes, accounting for three touchdowns.
Calvin Hill leads the running game with 308 yards and three touchdowns on 55 carries. Brock Sturges has 251 yards and two touchdowns on 61 carries, and Oklahoma State transfer Jahmyl Jeter has 80 yards and a touchdown. Texas State averages 148.6 rushing yards and 230.8 passing yards per game.
Haydel also returns punts. Against UTSA, he returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown with under two minutes remaining to tie the game, but the Bobcats missed the go-ahead extra point and lost in overtime.
Texas State Defense
Texas State has forced five turnovers, four of them interceptions. Jarron Morris leads the team with two interceptions, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown in a win over Louisiana-Monroe. He also has three pass breakups, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
The Bobcats allow 162 rushing yards, 292 passing yards and 32 points per game. They have given up 20 points in the first quarter, 62 in the second, 38 in the third and 30 in the fourth this season.
Jaguars Look to Regain Footing
South Alabama’s offense has seen its third-down conversion rate fall each week, from 58% in the season-opening win at Southern Miss to 47% against Tulane and 25% against UAB. Through three games, the offensive line has allowed seven sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
On defense, the Jaguars held Southern Miss to a 35% third-down conversion rate and Tulane to 9%, but UAB converted 63% of its third downs and opened the game with a big play on its first snap from scrimmage. South Alabama lost five players from last season’s secondary to graduation or transfer. Defensive coordinator Greg Stewart has emphasized creating more negative plays and turnovers; the Jaguars have two takeaways this season, both fumble recoveries.
Second-half production has also been an issue. Against Tulane, South Alabama scored 10 early points before its offense stalled in the third quarter, and the Green Wave scored 21 unanswered points to win. Against UAB, the Jaguars scored 10 unanswered points in the second quarter to pull within four but did not score in the second half.
