Very rarely can a college football program claim they've won the biggest game in program history. The argument can be made that the University of South Alabama has done exactly that twice already this season.
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MOBILE, Ala. — Very rarely can a college football program claim they've won the biggest game in program history. The argument can be made that the University of South Alabama has done exactly that twice already this season. After beating an SEC West team in Mississippi State on the road earlier in the year, the Jaguars downed a team ranked in the AP top 25 on Saturday night.
The 19th ranked Aztecs of San Diego State rolled into Ladd Peebles Stadium with one of the most potent rushing attacks in the country. Their running game got its yards, but the Jaguar defense held enough to claim the 42-24 victory.
"This game was probably one of the first games where we played well in all three phases," Jaguar head coach Joey Jones said. "When you play like that, you have a chance to win."
The Jaguars needed all three phases of the game to win this game. Starting quarterback went down with an injury a week ago, so backup Cole Garvin stepped in and ran the offense seamlessly. He ended the night with 242 yards and 3 touchdowns on 16 of 21 passing.
"I think (Cole) played great," Jones said. "I think he had one heck of a game, he was cool as he could be and he made great throws."
South Alabama scored on their first drive with a touchdown run by senior running back Tyreis Thomas to set the tone for the offense. The Jaguars led for much of the first half after Garvin threw a 37-yard touchdown to Kevin Kutchera on their next drive.
The Aztecs were able to intercept Garvin in the end zone and drive for a field goal to take a 16-14 lead into halftime.
Garvin wasted no time in the second half as he hit tight end Gerald Everett in stride wide open along the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown to give the Jags the lead once again at 21-16.
San Diego State's Christian Chapman threw a scoring pass to Kahale Warring late in the third quarter. With the two-point conversion good, they took a 24-21 lead into the final stanza.
Then the USA offense pushed the lead to 35-24 with another Garvin touchdown throw, this one to Josh Magee, and a 1-yard run from Dami Ayoola.
Chapman and the Aztec offense still had ample time left to mount a comeback, and were prepared to do so, until the Jaguar defense put the nail in the coffin.
In the South Alabama red zone, Chapman handed off to Nick Bawden, who was gang tackled for a loss of three yards, and he also lost the football. South Alabama defensive back Devon Earl scooped up the loose ball and ran it 80 yards the other way to give the Jags a stunning 42-24 victory.
Jones was hesitant to call this win bigger than the one in Starkville, but the argument could be made that it is.
The Jags now sit at 3-2 on the season, but have yet to win a conference game. They'll get a week off before traveling to Jonesboro to play Arkansas State, a team that has won the Sun Belt four times since 2010, but currently sport an 0-4 record.
