Every now and then, an FCS team pulls a shocker against an FBS team. Everyone remembers Appalachian State (now an FBS program) over Michigan to open the 2007 season. North Dakota State has beaten six FBS foes since 2010. Heck, four FCS teams have beaten FBS teams this year already.
Thursday night was not one of those games.
South Alabama blasted Northwestern State 87-10 as the Jaguars scored the most points scored by an FBS team since 1991, when Fresno State beat New Mexico 94-17, and it’s (unsurprisingly) both a South Alabama record and a Sun Belt record.
The scoring got going early for the Jaguars, when Jamaal Pritchett had a 62-yard punt return touchdown after Northwestern State went three-and-out to open the game.
After Northwestern State’s next drive ended in an interception, Gio Lopez found Jeremiah Webb for a touchdown on South Alabama’s first offensive play of the game.
The Demons didn’t quite go away — they actually put together back-to-back scoring drives — but it was still 24-10 at the end of the first quarter. Then things got ugly.
South Alabama scored 28 points while racking up 203 yards in the second quarter to take a 52-10 lead into halftime. The Jaguars added 28 more points in the third quarter, including a 59-yard touchdown run by Kentrel Bullock and a pick-six by Chrystyile Caldwell. South Alabama did pull its starters early in the third quarter, for what it’s worth, and the fourth quarter was shortened to 6 minutes.
Overall, South Alabama racked up 620 yards of offense (363 of which came on the ground). Lopez went 15 of 19 with 257 yards and four touchdowns; the Jaguars did not attempt another pass after he exited in the third quarter. Fluff Bothwell (seven carries for 143 yards, two touchdowns) and Bullock (eight carries for 102 yards, two touchdowns) led the way on the ground. The defense created four turnovers and had nine tackles for loss.
It’s been a tough start to the season for Northwestern State; the Demons lost their opener 62-28 at Tulsa and fell to Prairie View A&M 37-31 last week, coming up short on an untimed down to end the game. South Alabama, meanwhile, gets its first win of the season after losing to North Texas and Ohio in the first two weeks. The Jaguars open Sun Belt play next week against Appalachian State.
