MOBILE, Ala. – The number of touchdowns were lower, but so was the turnover total as the University of South Alabama football team took part in its second full scrimmage of the month at the practice fields on campus, leaving Jaguar head coach Joey Jones pleased with his program’s direction as preseason camp came to a close Saturday.

“We changed things up, but I thought we looked a little sharper,” commented Jones.  “There were a few penalties out there, which we have to get corrected in the next couple of weeks, but I thought it was a good day.  It was more like a game, we called all the special teams out there so they had to be alert on the sidelines.

“My overall feeling is that the offense and defense got better, and special teams were pretty consistent.”

The format for the Jaguars’ second scrimmage was adjusted from a week ago, with Jones putting the first-team offense against the second-team defense and vice versa.  Without having to face each other, the results were favorable for both first-team units — the offense scored on all five of its possessions, while the defense did not allow a point, including stopping two possessions that began on its eight-yard line, and surrendered just one first down after the opening series of the morning.

Overall the offense managed to collect 251 yards, but the first-team defense allowed only 48 of those on seven possessions.  Jarred and Montavious Williams each recovered fumbles — those were the only two turnovers of the day — while Anthony Taylor collected back-to-back sacks on the offense’s third drive before Kendell Bagnerise added another for a possession that lost 18 yards.

Jonathan Cameron and Bryson James led the unit — which was missing Randon Carnathan, Justin Dunn, Tim Harvey, Jake Johnson, Romelle Jones and Alex Page due to injuries — with four stops each.  Zack Rone paced all players with five tackles for the second-team defense.

“We cut down on our mistakes this week, because there were too many last week — defensively, offensively, it was everybody.  We were smoother on both sides of the ball this morning,” Taylor, who recorded three total stops, stated.  “I think we are ahead of where we thought we would be.  Everyone is picking up on what they are supposed to do, and the young guys have stepped in and done a good job.”

The first of two touchdowns on the day came on the first-team’s initial possession, with Myles Gibbon leading the unit 80 yards in seven plays before capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run after being forced out of the pocket on third-and-goal.  Brandon Ross picked up one first down with a gain of eight yards early in the series, while it was his 39-yard carry that moved the offense into the red zone.

“Everybody likes to come out and hit people, but my main focus was on getting faster,” commented Ross, who would finish with a team-leading 50 yards on three carries.  “I know I can break a 10-yard run, but I’m trying to get to the point where I can maintain my speed to break away and not worry about taking a second hit.”

The next time the first-team took the field, C.J. Bennett guided the group from its own 45-yard line into scoring position before Michel Chapuseaux kicked a 37-yard field goal.  Santuan McGee opened the possession with runs of nine and 21 yards to key the march.

He would finish the scrimmage with four carries for 31 yards.

Gibbon and Bennett would later combine to lead the group to another touchdown on its first drive after a five-minute break.  Kendall Houston carried twice for 12 yards, and with the unit facing fourth-and-five from the defense’s 43, Gibbon connected with Bryant Lavender on the left sideline for a 14-yard gain.  Bennett then came in and found Ralph Turner on the opposite side of the field for a 29-yard scoring pass, capping a possession that covered 60 yards in six plays.

“Our corners have gotten to know our plays a little bit and they want to jump on some things, so we got them with a slant-and-go,” observed Bennett.  “Ralph ran a great route and I had enough time, it was a nice little play.”

The first-team scored on both its red zone drives, with Houston — who would end up with 22 yards on the ground — scoring on runs of one and three yards.

The second-team’s best march came on the first drive of the day, with Bennett leading the unit from its own 20-yard line to the defense’s 34 before a fumbled handoff forced a punt.  Bennett opened the day with a 14-yard completion to Lamontis Gardner, and he found Gardner again one play later for eight more yards and another first down — the freshman would finish 3-of-3 on the possession after hitting Corey Besteda for an eight-yard gain as well.

“The offense was good today, so that means the line played well,” stated Gibbon.  “But I thought, standing on the sidelines watching the defense go against the twos, that we looked pretty sharp defensively too.”

“We’ve been getting after it throughout camp,” Bennett added.  “As an offense we cut down on the mistakes and I thought we played pretty well.”

Bennett was 5-of-8 passing for 65 yards and a touchdown, with Brennan Sim completing three passes for 27 yards and Gibbon one for 14, though he added 16 yards on the ground.  Besteda, Gardner and Lavender caught two passes each, while Turner’s 29 yards on his touchdown catch led the receiving corps.

“We will evaluate this film and go into next week with an idea of who our ones and twos will be,” Jones explained afterwards.  “Of course, it’s not over because these kids compete for jobs every day, but we have to find a starting point when we begin next week.”

Although fall semester classes officially begin Monday, the Jaguars will continue to work out in the mornings this fall as they take the field at 7:15 a.m. following an off day Sunday.  USA will officially open its second season of competition against Pikeville (Ky.) on Sept. 4 at 4 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

“I think we’re headed in the right direction.  We’ve been working hard all summer and had a great camp, things have definitely been coming together,” said Bennett.  “We are definitely ready for Sept. 4 to come.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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