Article by: Robbie Kan, Contributing Writer

Rain fell over Hancock-Whitney Stadium for most of the game on Saturday, Oct. 3, as South Alabama celebrated homecoming weekend and began conference play against Louisiana-Monroe. Just a week earlier, South Alabama suffered a 45-21 loss to Kentucky with plenty to prove as it returned to Mobile for the conference opener. But despite the dreary weather and last week’s loss, the Jaguars came out firing. On the second play of the game Jared Hollins connected with Brendan Jenkins for a 72-yard touchdown pass. Then just a few plays later, Masey Lewis returned a fumble recovery to extend the lead to 14-0. The quick start gave South control early and set the tone for the rest of the night. ULM struggled to slow down the Jaguars’ offense, as South finished with 570 total yards offensively, with Hollins showing out with 320 yards through the air. Although the offense had a very respectable showing, the defense could not say the same. While there were some important turnovers that helped extend the lead, the Jaguars struggled to get ULM off the field for most of the night, allowing both Monroe QB Aiden Armenta to throw for 355 yards and the Warhawks to score 35 points, never fully putting them away. Despite the defensive issues, South’s offense appeared to be too much for the Warhawks, as whenever ULM responded with a touchdown, the Jaguars came back with a scoring play.

South Alabama’s offense looks very good this year, averaging nearly 500 yards of offense and 35 points after five games. The defense, though, cannot say the same, as they are ranked at 120 with 411 yards allowed per game and 119 with 31.6 points allowed per game. South appears capable of competing in the Sun Belt this season but will need defensive improvement before facing better teams in the conference. While the win over ULM was a positive way to kick off conference play, it came against a team that is 0-5 and has allowed the most points and yards in the nation. ULM is currently among the weakest teams in both the Sun Belt and the FBS. Stronger conference opponents will provide a tougher test and a better indication of how strong the Jaguars are this season.