After a bye week and much practice
that Jaguars return to the game action on the road in Jonesboro, AR, to face
off against Arkansas State the Sun Belt Conference defending champions. South
Alabama will meet the Arkansas State Red Wolves at 6 p.m. Saturday at Liberty
Bank Stadium. This is the first road game for the Jaguars in the SBC.
“Arkansas State is a very good football
team. I watched them play last Thursday at FIU, they went down there on
the road and beat a very good team. Their losses have come to the likes
of Oregon and Nebraska, so they are a very good football team. They’re
very good on offense, and have a lot of juniors and seniors starting in their
offensive and defensive lineups.” Said Coach Joey Jones.
South Alabama offense is coming off a performance in its
conference debut against Troy on Sept. 29 that included a season-best 193 yards
rushing, with Demetre Baker collecting 62 yards on 16 carries to help spark
that effort. He is among the top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference with
nearly 60 yards per outing, and has led the Jags rushing attack in four of the
team’s first five games.
Five Jaguar wideouts have caught at least 10
passes, led by Bryant Lavender’s 13 for 122 yards. Jeremé Jones has a
team-high 160 yards on 12 receptions, while Corey Besteda and Greg Hollinger
have 10 catches apiece for 144 and 135 yards, respectively. Junior
transfer Ross Metheny, who has completed 34-of-59 passes for 354 yards and a
score, was named the starting quarterback this week by Jones and his staff.
“We have to be able to stick the ball into the
end zone. Defense and special teams are playing good enough to win, so if
we can get that part going on offense then we’re going to get this thing
rolling. But we have to get out there and get it done.” said Coach
Jones.
The Jags have a chance to pick up a win and show
their strengths with this game against the Red Wolves. South Alabama offense
will have to learn to play good end zone football as the coach has said, and
eliminate the penalties and turnovers. They have to control and secure the ball
on each play. South Alabama defense will need to step up to the plate a lil
tougher and stop the pass play of Arkansas State. It can be done!
Ross Metheny is in as starting quarterback for
South Alabama against Arkansas State, after coach Joey Jones and staff made the
decision after the Troy game. Ross now will have the chance to prove that he is
the guy to the lead the offense at South Alabama and help this team to a
victory or more.
University of South
Alabama head football coach Joey Jones announced Friday afternoon that running
back Demetre Baker, the Jaguars' leading rusher, has been suspended for
Saturday's game against Arkansas State for a violation of team rules.
Through five games this
season, Baker, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound sophomore running back who transferred to
South Alabama from Georgia, has carried the ball 69 times for 294 yards and a
touchdown. He also has six pass receptions for 55 yards.
