South Alabama Hosts SBC Western Division Leader Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday
South Alabama returns home for one of their final two home games this season and expected to be the final two games hosted at Ladd-Peebles Stadium as the schools new on-campus stadium is on schedule to open in 2020.
After their heartbreaking loss to Texas State last Saturday, the Jags (1-8 overall, 0-5 SBC) continue to search for their first FBS win of the 2019 season. Their opponent this week is Sun Belt Conference Western Division leader Louisiana-Lafayette (7-2 overall, 4-1 SBC).
However head coach Steve Campbell continues to like the way his team has responded and believes that they will eventually turn the corner. “Regardless of circumstance or whatever, just keep grinding and keep chopping wood because I know we’re going to get there,” Campbell said. “We’ve got really good young men on this football team, there’s good talent on this team.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns lead the conference in scoring offense (38.3 points per game) and scoring defense (17.1 points per game). The Cajun defense has only allowed 10 total points over the last two games and have allowed 14 or fewer points in 4-of-9 games this season.
Riding on that defense, the Cajuns have risen to #39 in the ESPN Power Index, four spots ahead of Appalachian State (#43).
Running backs Elija Mitchell and Trey Ragas have combined for 1,374 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Then quarterback Levi Lewis had a break-out game going 26-of-30 for 296 yards and three touchdowns in their dominating win over Coastal-Carolina.
Cajun head coach Billy Napier, not wanting to overlook any opponent, has kept his team focused over their bye week heading into the game. He even spoke about how the team watched the New Orleans Saints lose to the Atlanta Falcons despite their quite opposite records (7-1 Saints, 1-7 Falcons) and discussed how they have to bring their best each and every game.
Meanwhile the Jags, behind redshirt freshman Desmond Trotter at quarterback, showed a semblance of life with 348 yards of total offense, 184 rushing yards and 164 passing yards. They even converted 6-of-14 3rd down attempts.
Offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield praised Trotter for managing the game well and helping get the team into the right plays. They’ll probably look to continue that against the Cajuns.
Defensively, the Jags allowed a number of 3rd-and-long to be converted by Texas State. A frustrating amount of them, including a 3rd & 20 situation where they completed a pass for 27 yards.
The Jags defense will face a Cajun offensive line who are among the best in the conference. They lead the way for the two running backs, Mitchell and Ragas as well as quarterback Lewis. They also mix in different formations and personnel to try to get matchups they like and to make the defense stay honest and play fundamentally sound.
If the Jags can limit the Cajuns explosive plays and make tackles, that will go a long way towards the Jags keeping the game close.
The Cajuns come in a 28.5 point favorite over the Jags and are 8-1 against the spread. While I don’t think the Jags will win outright, I think the Jags will cover the spread and it may only be because the Cajuns look to stay healthy for their stretch run to the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship game.
The Jags and the Cajuns kickoff at 4pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday, November 16th. Pregame and play-by-play coverage can be heard locally in Mobile on 99.5 FM The Jag, 96.1 FM or via the iHeartMedia app worldwide. The game can be viewed on ESPN+.
Go Jags!