Sunday, November 14, 2010

Alabama State defense stymies Southern

Southern quarterback Jeremiah McGinty learned a tough lesson during Saturday night’s 21-19 loss to Alabama State: What you see isn’t always what you get.

McGinty, who entered the Southwestern Athletic Conference game in the second quarter in hopes of sparking Southern’s offense, threw two interceptions — mistakes that free safety Kejuan Riley said his defense baited McGinty into attempting.

“I think he underestimated us,” said Riley, whose defense held McGinty and Dray Joseph to a combined 13 of 41 passing for 128 yards.

Penalty costs Southern in loss to Alabama State

At long last, toward the end of a long, ugly, disappointing season, they seemed ready to deliver in crunch time. Instead, like so many times before, the Southern Jaguars were done in by a piece of yellow fabric.

Saturday night, in the closing moments of their 21-19 loss against Alabama State, some 8,482 fans watched the Jaguars struggling offense put together a strong fourth-quarter scoring drive when they absolutely needed one. They scored with 16 seconds left. They came within a two-point conversion of tying the game.

McGinty nearly brings SU back in fourth quarter

There were improvements on the field this week despite the fact that Southern University seemed to do just enough to stay out of the win column for the fifth consecutive week. Penalties and special teams play haunted the Jaguars, who still got a standout defensive effort before falling to Alabama State 21-19 Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The offense, which struggled a week ago in a loss to Texas Southern, sputtered for a half, but produced two long fourth-quarter scoring drives. Starting quarterback Dray Joseph was lifted in the third quarter as Southern coach Stump Mitchell decided to shake up his lineup.

Southern takes eighth loss for first time since 1981

It’s been a long time since Southern had a record like this. And the Jaguars haven’t had a record like this very often. Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Alabama State handed SU its eighth loss this season with a 21-19 victory.

It is the first time Southern has lost eight games in one season since 1981, when the Jaguars went 3-8 in Otis Washington’s first year as coach. Washington went 8-3 the next season and finished 35-30-1 in six years as Southern’s coach.

Southern-Alabama State: How they scored

First quarter
SOUTHERN: LaQuinton Evans 9 pass from Dray Joseph (Josh Duran kick) at 10:09. DRIVE: 3 plays, 36 yards, 1:15. KEY PLAYS: A long punt return by Richard Wilson allows Southern to start at the ASU 36-yard line. Joseph hits wideout Corderious Gregory on a 27-yard gain down the seam. Evans scores on a simple slant pattern. Southern 7, Alabama State 0.

Late penalty costs Southern in 21-19 loss to Alabama State

BATON ROUGE -- Considering that Southern entered Saturday night's game against Alabama State last in the SWAC in penalties, it shouldn't be a surprise that penalties cost the Jaguars a win against the Hornets.

Southern (2-8, 1-7 SWAC) scored a touchdown with 16 seconds left, putting itself a two-point conversion from tying the score at 21. But fullback Brian McCain was called for a personal foul, pushing the Jaguars back 15 yards for their conversion try.

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ATTENDANCE: 8482



Videographer: Wayla2010

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