MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama, one win away from bowl eligibility, opens a three-game road swing this week at Troy in the Battle for the Belt.
The Jaguars (5-3, 2-3 Sun Belt Conference) are coming off a 31-13 win over Arkansas State (1-7, 0-4). Troy (4-4, 2-2 SBC) has won the last three meetings and leads the all-time series 6-3. South Alabama’s most recent win in the series came in 2017, when current head coach Kane Wommack was the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator.
Wommack, in his first season as head coach, addressed the rivalry with the team Monday and brought in the empty case that holds the Belt when it is in South Alabama’s possession. Troy is a 3.5-point favorite.
Fast Start Against Arkansas State
South Alabama scored touchdowns on each of its first four possessions against Arkansas State. Jalen Tolbert scored the first two, giving him nine career touchdowns against the Red Wolves. The Jaguars held Arkansas State to 28 total yards and minus-12 rushing yards in the first half; the Red Wolves’ only touchdown came on a kickoff return following South Alabama’s fourth score.
Arkansas State held the Jaguars to negative yardage in the third quarter, but South Alabama’s defense did not allow a touchdown in the second half and forced four turnovers in the game.
Terrion Avery, who wears the program’s honorary No. 5 jersey, became the second Jaguar this season to rush for more than 100 yards in a game, joining Kareem Walker, who did it against Alcorn State in Week 3.
Troy Trojans
Troy’s largest margin of defeat this season was 13 points, in a 29-16 loss to Louisiana-Monroe. The Trojans also lost 35-28 to Coastal Carolina, 21-13 to Liberty and 23-14 to South Carolina. Both of their conference wins came by three points with late rallies: 27-24 over Georgia Southern at home and 31-28 at Texas State. Troy also beat Southern 55-3 and Southern Miss 21-9.
The Trojans average 27.4 points, 382 total yards, 243.7 passing yards and 138.3 rushing yards per game. They have converted 41.4 percent of third downs and have scored on 19 of 25 red-zone trips, 15 of them touchdowns.
Taylor Powell, a Missouri transfer, started the first four games before a knee injury, completing 101 of 153 passes for 960 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Gunnar Watson has started the last four games, completing 68 of 100 passes for 746 yards and six touchdowns without an interception.
Kimani Vidal leads the running backs with 553 yards and five touchdowns on 105 carries. BJ Smith has 248 yards and Jamontez Woods has 222 yards and four touchdowns. Tez Johnson leads the receivers with 46 catches for 481 yards and three touchdowns.
Receiver Reggie Todd, Troy’s second-leading pass catcher with 21 catches for 257 yards, has been suspended indefinitely after his arrest on a charge of hindering prosecution in connection with a shooting during a high school football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Oct. 15. A charge is only an accusation, and Todd is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Trojans Defense
Troy’s defense ranks 18th nationally in total defense, 20th against the run and tied for 10th in turnovers gained. The Trojans allow 21.6 points, 311.3 total yards, 211.4 passing yards and 99.9 rushing yards per game. Opponents have scored on all 13 of their red-zone trips, but only six of those were touchdowns. Troy has 59 tackles for loss, 27 sacks, 13 interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Linebacker Carlton Martial, a Mobile native who played at McGill-Toolen, leads the team with 70 tackles, eight tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. Javon Solomon has 35 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, a team-high eight sacks and an interception, and linebacker KJ Robertson has 34 tackles.
Troy’s defense made three fourth-quarter interceptions at Texas State, returning one for the go-ahead touchdown. A week earlier, an interception set up the game-winning field goal against Georgia Southern with 1:46 remaining.
Kicker Brooks Buce has made all four of his field goal attempts, with a long of 34, and 24 of 25 extra points. Punter Luke Magliozzi averages 42.8 yards on 38 punts.
South Alabama Offense
The Jaguars average 29.1 points, 394.5 total yards, 261.1 passing yards and 133.4 rushing yards per game. They have converted 37 percent of third downs and 13 of 20 fourth-down attempts. South Alabama has 13 giveaways, eight lost fumbles and five interceptions.
Quarterback Jake Bentley has completed 181 of 259 passes (69.9 percent) for 2,073 yards and 15 touchdowns, becoming the first Jaguar in five seasons to pass for more than 2,000 yards.
Tolbert has 54 catches for 967 yards and six touchdowns, ranking among the leaders in the conference and nationally. Jalen Wayne has 34 catches for 385 yards, Caullin Lacy has 32 catches for 262 yards, and Lincoln Sefcik has 17 catches for 146 yards and three touchdowns.
Avery leads the rushing attack with 399 yards on 95 carries. Bryan Hill has 271 yards and three touchdowns, and Walker, in his second game back from a quad injury, has 237 yards and four touchdowns in five games.
South Alabama Defense and Special Teams
South Alabama allows 21 points, 320.8 total yards, 202.2 passing yards and 118.5 rushing yards per game. Opponents have converted 29 percent of third downs. The Jaguars have 54 tackles for loss and 24 sacks.
Quentin Wilfawn leads the team with 36 tackles. Keith Gallmon and Yam Banks each have 35. Jamal Brooks leads with 5.5 tackles for loss, and Charles Coleman III and CJ Rias share the sack lead with three each. Darrell Luter’s two interceptions against Arkansas State give him a team-high three.
Kicker Diego Guajardo is 26 of 28 on extra points and 9 of 13 on field goals after making a 39-yarder against Arkansas State. Punter Jack Brooks averages 41.6 yards.
Injury Report
South Alabama’s offensive line is shorthanded. Center James Jackson injured his knee two games ago, and Trey Simpson moved from guard to center. Hadon Merchant missed the Arkansas State game with a knee injury, and right guard Anterrious Gray suffered a concussion and must clear the concussion protocol to play. If Jackson and Merchant cannot play, Kent Foster and a group of freshmen and former walk-ons would provide interior depth.
Jamal Brooks missed time against Arkansas State with a shoulder injury he had been playing through. Bryan Hill ran 47 yards on his only carry before leaving with a shoulder injury.
