What we learned from South Alabama football’s upset victory at Southern Miss
A South Alabama football program determined to establish a foothold in the Gulf Coast region took a significant step in that direction Thursday night with a 32-21 victory over Southern Miss at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
The victory ended a 15-game road losing streak for the Jaguars, including an 0-12 run under Campbell, who is a former head coach at nearby Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Thursday night’s nationally-televised contest was the first meeting between the two schools after USA first established its football program in 2009.
Southern Miss has over 100 years of football history and a long record of punching above its weight and earning 24 bowl bids.
On its home field Thursday night, the Golden Eagles weren’t up to the task against a program that has yet to earn a winning season.
There are 24 players on the South Alabama roster who hail from Mississippi and each of them had to enjoy the 90-mile trek back to the Mobile campus.
“It’s tough to lose any game, especially at ‘The Rock’ to a team like that,” USM quarterback Jack Abraham said. “There a good team, but the end of the day it comes down to us. We didn’t play like we should have. We’ll have to get in the film room and fix it.”
For USM, it was a disappointing return to the issues that led to inconsistent play over the last two seasons — the lack of a rushing attack and not enough push up front on either side of the line of scrimmage. USM finished with 95 yards rushing on 37 carries.
USA had a balanced attack on offense and a defense that put pressure on Abraham by winning the battle up front.
USM head coach Jay Hopson also acknowledged that his team’s missed tackles played a role in the outcome.
“It didn’t help,” Hopson said. “It’s one of those things. We probably didn’t do as much tackling (as we have in past fall camps). There were a lot of unknowns going into this game. There really were. We weren’t up to speed like a normal season.”
Abraham completed 22 of 32 passes for 314 yards, but South Alabama’s more balanced offense proved too much to overcome for the Golden Eagles.
USM will enter a bye week hoping to clean up its issues before hosting Louisiana Tech at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. South Alabama next hosts Tulane on Sept. 12.
Adjusting to COVID-19 guidelines
Fans were spread across M.M. Roberts Stadium with most observing social distancing guidelines.
They also milled about the stadium wearing masks, but often pulled down their face covering after taking a seat inside the stadium.
Masks were not required in stadium seating, but USM “encouraged” fans to wear face coverings prior to game day.
USM did not announce an official attendance for the game, but media in attendance estimated the crowd at about 7,500.
Capacity was limited to 25 percent of the 36,000-seat stadium under an executive order from Gov. Tate Reeves.
Southern Miss D has issues against the pass
After the Southern Miss secondary struggled to begin the 2019 season, the group appeared to revert to last year’s woes against the Jaguars.
On the third play of the game, Trotter hit Jalen Tolbert on a short toss out wide. The cornerback defending Tolbert, Natrone Brooks, missed on the tackle and nickel back Tyler Barnes did the same, allowing Tolbert to race 73 yards to the end zone.
Both Barnes and junior corner Eric Scott Jr. had nice moments with each picking up interceptions, but the stats showed that there’s work to be done.
The Jaguars had 363 yards total passing with Trotter completing 16 of 27 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Former Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College QB Chance Lovertich completed two of three passes for 64 yards and a TD.
Tolbert was USA’s top target, hauling in six receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Jalen Wayne also caught six passes for 101 yards.
“We knew, offensively, they were going to throw it up to (Tolbert and Kawaan Baker),” Hopson said. “They made some big plays and came down with some contested throws. At the end of the day, they made big plays. That was the tale of the tape.”
Redshirt sophomore safety Malik Shorts acknowledged that Tolbert and the rest of the receiving corps got the best of the USM secondary.
“(Tolbert) is a very good wide receiver. He just wanted it more tonight,” Shorts said. “We were out of position and he was able to high point the ball. They wanted it more than we did tonight. We’ll have to come back and change our whole mindset.”
Coast connection
Several Mississippi Gulf Coast natives played key roles for the Jaguars, including three offensive linemen who started the game — former East Central standout Conner Estes, Harrison Central product Jacob Shoemaker and another East Central Hornet, Wyatt Green.
Ex-Stone High and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College standout Terrion Avery, a junior running back who recently earned a scholarship, had eight carries for 26 yards and a 2-yard TD.
Former Gulfport High School defensive lineman Gi’Narious Johnson, a junior tackle, had a big game in the middle of the South Alabama line with three tackles, including a third-down sack in the first half that forced a USM punt.
USM had a former Coast standout of its own with Biloxi product Tim Jones catching six passes for 139 yards.
