Jags Travel to Ohio for First Road Trip of 2024 - University of South Alabama Athletics (2024)

Football 9/2/2024 1:55:00 PM

GAME 2

South Alabama (0-1, 0-0 SBC) at Ohio (0-1, 0-0 SBC)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7
Kickoff: 5 p.m. CT
Location: Athens, Ohio (Peden Stadium)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Jags Radio Network
Social: @SouthAlabamaFB
Game Notes: South Alabama| Ohio
Tickets: USAJaguars.com/tickets/football

NOTES

– South Alabama will travel to Ohio for its first road game of the season. The Jaguars have won three of their last-four road openers, and are an even 7-7 all-time in the first road game of the year.

– South Alabama has played eight games against four MAC schools with a 5-3 overall record in those games. The Jaguars' most-recent game against a MAC school came in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl when South secured its first-ever bowl championship with a 59-10 beatdown over Eastern Michigan. South holds a 3-2 advantage over MAC schools from the state of Ohio.

– In South Alabama's season-opener, quarterback Gio Lopez set program records for single-game passing yards and single-game total offense. Lopez threw for 432 yards and added 62 yards rushing to get him to a total of 494 yards for the day. Lopez led the entire nation in total offense through week one.

QUOTES

"Obviously disappointed in Saturday, but you've got to move on. You've got to move on quickly in this business, because we're playing a better opponent this week. We're playing a team that's won 10 games two years in a row. Very fundamental program. Ohio has done a great job over the years, specifically the last two years, with two 10-win seasons and a top-10 ranked defense."

-Head Coach Major Applewhite on moving on to prepare for a good Ohio team

"I think we did some good things out there at times. At the end of the day, we had too many critical penalties and just a couple critical mistakes here and there. That can cost you, and I think we saw that. We'll try to learn from those things. I think that's the big thing early in the season is the continued climb."

-Offensive Coordinator Rob Ezell on the offense's performance against North Texas

"When you have guys who step into certain roles, they have to take some ownership of those roles. We've got to get things fixed, and we will. We started the day in meetings, and as we go through practice, those things are going to continue to hammer down."

-Defensive Coordinator Will Windham on the new defensive personnel coming together

ABOUT OHIO

Ohio enters Saturday's matchup with an identical 0-1 record to South after falling to Syracuse in its season opener by a score of 38-22. Parker Navarro quarterbacks the Bobcats and threw for 181 yards against Syracuse. Running back Tyus Anthony III rushed for 203 yards against the Orange, and Austin Brawley was the team's top tackler with 12 takedowns. Ohio is coached by Tim Albin who is in his fourth year at the helm of the program. He holds a record of 23-17.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between the Jaguars and Bobcats. Ohio is one of three schools that South Alabama will face for the first time this season.

LAST TIME OUT

QuarterbackGio Lopezset the South Alabama Football single-game records for passing yards and total offense, but the Jaguars fell short in the form of a 52-38 setback to North Texas Saturday night in the team's season opener at Hanco*ck Whitney Stadium.

Lopez passed for 432 yards on the night and rushed for an additional 62 to get to 494 yards of total offense.

Lopez's primary target on the night was receiverJamaal Pritchett, who finished the game with 197 receiving yards and a touchdown. Those 197 yards were the second-most in a single game in program history. It marked a career high for the senior. While Lopez led the Jags in rushing, true freshmanFluff Bothwellrecorded 30 yards and a touchdown in his collegiate debut. The receiving duo ofShamar SandgrenandAnthony Eagerboth recorded the first college receptions and touchdowns of their respective careers.

Defensively, the Jaguars were led by linebackerBlayne Myrickwho set a career high with 12 total tackles. South also got nine takedowns from defensive backJordan Scruggsin his South Alabama debut. Defensive linemanWy'Kevious Thomasnotched seven tackles on the night as well.

A big second quarter appeared to give USA momentum heading into the locker room at halftime. The Jaguars took a 19-14 advantage into the break after getting a big goal line stop to end the first half. The third quarter would prove to be detrimental for South, though, as the Mean Green outscored the Jaguars 28-7 in that 15-minute period. The Jags kept pushing in the fourth quarter with a pair of late touchdowns, but it was not enough as North Texas secured a two-touchdown victory.

FOLLOW THE JAGS

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