MOBILE, Ala. – Having just reached the midway point between the start of fall camp and the season opener, the University of South Alabama football team worked out for just over two hours Tuesday morning at the practice fields on campus.

The Jaguars suited up in full gear on a day in which the defense shined.

“You like to see guys who respond to adversity,” head coach Joey Jones said. “The defense had a rough day yesterday and it responded (today). That’s what it’s all about – getting out there and fighting. We have a bunch of competitive guys.”
 
USA spent 10 of the final 20 minutes of practice working the offense against the defense in third-down situations. Of the 12 plays that were run, the defense forced one sack, two pass breakups and five incompletions. The offense gained positive yardage on four plays, with two of those coming on quarterback draws by C.J. Bennett and Trey Fetner. Fetner closed the drill with a 40-yard pass completion to Corey Besteda and a 10-yard completion on a swing pass to Tyrome Bivins.

The Jags then moved into the two-minute offense, and the defense again answered the bell.

On the first play of the series, which started at midfield, Damond Smith intercepted a pass at the 30-yard line to kill the drive. The defense forced an incompletion on the next play of the drill, before Fetner connected with Donte Rome for a 21-yard pass completion to the 29-yard line. Fetner took the next snap and moved the ball between the hash marks to set up a 47-yard field goal attempt, which Jordan Means eventually connected on after the defense tried to ice him with timeouts.

“It went really well,” Jones said of Tuesday’s workout. “I thought it was a better overall practice today than it was yesterday. For the end of camp, I think we’re okay. We don’t have anyone with dead legs, we just have some tired guys. But I’m real pleased with where we are.”

Tuesday’s practice opened with special teams work before moving to 30 minutes of individual and group work. From there, USA spent 10 minutes in both inside running and play-action pass drills. Skeleton pass drills followed at the skill positions, while the offensive linemen worked on pass protection.

A 10-break followed prior to team work against the scout team, third-down situations and two-minute drill.

South Alabama will not practice Wednesday, but will instead go to Camp Grace in Mobile for team-building activities and exercises.

“It helps you overcome your fears,” Jones said. “You have your team helping you, and you find ways to work out a solution out there. It’s really a neat deal, and our kids love it. It’s just another way we can get together and team-build without having to be on a practice field, so I think it’s a valuable tool for us in the middle of camp.”

USA will return to practice Thursday, with the first of two scheduled workouts that day beginning at 6:15 a.m. at the practice fields.

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).