South Alabama Drops Sun Belt Conference Opener To Louisiana-Monroe 30-17
South Alabama played a somewhat better game than the previous two, but still wound up on the short end of a 30-17 score in Monroe, Louisiana. The Jags fall to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in Sun Belt Conference play. This was also the 12th consecutive road loss.
The Jags opened the game with a stop on defense and then led a 12-play, 90 yard drive for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. But were unable to sustain the offensive momentum for the whole game.
ULM answered the Jaguars touchdown quickly with a tying touchdown and it only took 1:29 off the clock.
USA had a chance to regain the lead, but an overthrow by Cephus Johnson was intercepted in the end zone on the first play of the 2nd quarter.
The Jags were able to keep the Warhawks out of the end zone, but gave up a field goal off the turnover.
After being unable to sustain the drive and being forced to punt. The Warhawks used big plays to put another touchdown on the board. They only needed four plays to cover the 72 yards to take a 17-7 lead.
South Alabama drove down to the 4 yard line before stalling and having to settle for a field goal.
The Jaguar defense forced three-consecutive punts to open the second half, but then the Warhawks scored touchdowns on their next two possession all but putting the game away.
USA added a late touchdown to cover the spread. After being unable to recover the onside kick the game was over even though the Jags would get the ball one more time there was really no threat.
The South Alabama offense rolled up 263 yards rushing, with Tra Minter rushing for 150 of them on 19 carries. But they were hampered with penalties at the wrong time, though they were few at least.
The offensive line was outmatched, despit out weighing the ULM defensive line. Cephus was pressured and sacked on numerous occasions. Coach Steve Campbell, an offensive line guru, has yet to get the Jaguar offensive line to put together four quarters of good play.
“I thought we did some things better,” coach Campbell said after the game. “We ran the ball better, but we didn’t have any success through the air until late in the game when we had to spread it out and had to start throwing it. Disappointing loss, very disappointing.”
“We let too many opportunities slip away,” Campbell said. “We’re not there yet. We’ve got to keep grinding, keep pushing.”
Campbell and his team will have a short turnaround as they will play Georgia Southern on Thursday night at Ladd-Peebles Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 6:30pm. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.