In
another loss for South Alabama Jaguars, they allow a total of 384 yards in
their first real testimonial game against NC State. NC State Mike Glennon threw
for 257 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, leading North Carolina State to a
31-7 non-conference football victory over the University of South Alabama at
Carter-Finley Stadium.
“We
knew when N.C. State held Connecticut to seven points last weekend that they
were a very good defensive football team,” stated USA head coach Joey
Jones.
“When
you look at their film from last year and this year, they are two totally
different teams. They showed that today. They were very good up
front, and got to the quarterback several times. We could have done some
things better, but they are very good defensive football team.
I
also think South Alabama could have done better in this game, one thing South
Alabama has to do is learn to protect and control the ball on catches and
carries, and learn to move the ball to the red zone and make those big plays
that will help them in situations like that against another Wolfpack like team
in the future. South Alabama has a problem in this area on offense, in
protecting the ball and reducing penalties and the turnovers. It seems like the
players can’t get it together. This is not the time to try and make pretty
plays, this is the time to prove who you really are as a team.
“I
thought we fought hard defensively, and the positive thing was that I thought
we won the second half. I challenged them [the team] at halftime to win
the second half, and we came out and did that. We didn’t quit; our kids
fought hard. There are obviously some things we can work on, but a lot of
it had to do with the fact that they were pretty good on defense.”
Yes,
a lot has to be corrected and worked on coach Jones been saying that after
every game and pratice. The question is, are the players really getting it?
Only 7 points and our South Alabama defense allow 31 points from the Wolfpacks.
A Jag turnover midway through the second quarter led to N.C. State’s other
score in the opening half.
Jake
Johnson led the Jags defensively with a season-high 14 stops, which included a
school game-record 11 of the solo variety. It’s the third game in a row
that the senior has paced the unit in tackles. South Alabama needs more guys
like Jake Johnson and his mentality on defense.
Enrique
Williams added nine tackles and Terrell Brigham had seven. Clifton Crews
and Tyrell Pearson made six stops each — a season-high total for the former and
a career best for the latter — while Alex Page ended up with five including a
career-best two sacks.
Baker
finished with a team-leading and game-high 100 all-purpose yards, gaining 45 on
seven rushes while catching five passes for 55 more — the receiving figures
were both career highs. Saxton had four receptions for 72 yards, Besteda
caught three passes for 68 yards and T.J. Glover collected three catches as
well. Metheny completed 14-of-20 attempts for 189 yards, while Bennett
was 10-of-15 passing for 74.
QB
Ross Metheny, had great stats in Saturday game against NC State, even though he
has experience playing ACC teams coming from Virginia. He really helped the
offense in Saturday game. Metheny was
14-20 of his completions and put up 189 total yards and 1 and only touchdown
when he connected with a 8 yard pass to Jereme Jones.
I
as many other fans of South Alabama believes Coach Jones needs take another
look at his offensive line and make some decision on who should start and not,
better mentality and players are needed on the offense to help the Jaguars get
to where they need to be in these games. QB Metheny needs more playing time and
reps with the team. He should become the team starting QB asap. I think the new offensive coordinator has a
great game plan but it has to be executed much better on the field in game time
decisions. Games like that of UTSA,
Nicholls State and now NC State should have been much better, we don’t need to
continue to give excuses and sympathy for our team because we are now in the
big boy league that require big boy plays. Coach Jones, OC Matthews and DC
Clark need to get down and dirty with this team this week in practice to make
them realize these are real games this season and no time to take any team for
a joke. These games can be won, they can even be won on a small point margin.
I
truly believe that NC State could have been beat, and not only that UConn held
NC State to only 10 points in their game a week prior to facing South Alabama.
So there were some answers to be given to the Wolfpacks from the Jaguars but
the Jags failed to do that. I am disappointed in our team and the players,
because I indeed believe they could have step up to the plate with better
answers to the Wolfpacks and other teams. They still have a chance to get it
right before this season is over.
