Coaches often talk of the need to run the ball effectively to win, but good offenses take what opposing defenses give them.
And few defenses have been as “giving” in the passing game as South Alabama and Appalachian State. The Jaguars (1-2) and Mountaineers (2-1) meet Thursday night in Boone, N.C., for each team’s Sun Belt Conference opener, a nationally televised game that will feature not only two explosive offenses, but two defenses that have had trouble stopping opponents through the air.
RELATED: South Alabama plays another Thursday game, vs. very different type of opponent
App State and South Alabama rank 13th and 14th in the Sun Belt Conference in passing defense, and 115th and 116th among 133 FBS teams in the same category. The Mountaineers allow 269.3 passing yards per game, the Jaguars 273.7.
The Mountaineers are second in the Sun Belt in passing offense at 321.3 yards per game and fourth in total offense (456 ypg). The running game has been less steady, totaling just 404 yards in three games.
South Alabama, meanwhile, averages a Sun Belt-best 48.3 points and 512.3 yards per game, and is second in the league in both rushing (207.3 ypg) and passing (305). Receiver Jamaal Pritchett tops the conference in receptions (20) and is second in yards (286).
“A well-coached football team,” App State coach Shawn Clark said of the Jaguars. “You look at their statistics, it really pops out. They’re eighth nationally in scoring offense, 30th nationally in rushing and seventh nationally in explosive plays. On offensive side of the ball, they can really get the ball down the field, stretch the field.”
South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez drops back to pass against Northwestern State in the first half of a NCAA football game Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com
Each has a dynamic passer at quarterback. South Alabama’s Gio Lopez missed Week 2 vs. Ohio with turf toe, but in the two games he has played has passed for 689 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception.
App State’s Joey Aguilar was the preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year, and is the reigning conference player of the week after throwing for 424 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s comeback win over East Carolina. For the season, Aguilar has thrown for 964 yards and five touchdowns.
“Joey does a great job with the ball,” South Alabama coach Major Applewhite said. “… He can just make plays and can hit (receivers) when they’re open. He’s an accurate passer and when they’re not open, he finds a way to extend the plays and those receivers do a really good job, tight ends as well, just escaping and trying to create lanes for him to throw the ball off schedule. He does a great job playing on schedule and then when you cover everybody, he can take off too. So, he’s a really good football player.”
App State is somewhat short-handed on the defensive side, with nose tackle Markus Clark and linebacker Derrell Farrar — the former a part-time starter and the latter a key rotation player — out for the season due to injury. In addition, starting strong safety Jordan Favors will miss the first half of Thursday’s game after being ejected for targeting in the third quarter against East Carolina.
South Alabama also has its share of defensive injuries, particularly in the secondary. Starting cornerback Ricky Fletcher has not played all season and is out indefinitely with a back injury, while fellow corner Reggie Neely has missed the last two weeks.
For South Alabama, the injuries have pressed younger players into action. Freshman Amarion Fortenberry has started the last two weeks at cornerback (he had his first career interception last Thursday night vs. Northwestern State), while freshman safety Dee Darby has moved over to provide depth at corner.
“That’s the thing, now that we’re three games, they’re not allowed to be young anymore,” South Alabama defensive coordinator Will Windham said. “They’ve got to be veterans now and they’ve played enough snaps. … Those guys work their tail off and they’re going to continue to develop. By the time you hit Week 4, those guys aren’t youngsters anymore.”
Kickoff for South Alabama at App State is set for 6:30 p.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game will be televised live by ESPN.
