Mobile, Alabama –South Alabama took a 14-3 lead into the final period, but Arkansas State’s persistence and USA’s penalties pushed the Red Wolves on to victory. In the final period, even Jaguar HC Major Applewhite contributed negatively with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike call against him. The sloppy play spoke volumes in this one. Arkansas State incurred 11 flags for 91 yards. South Alabama induced 14 for 130 yards. This game was tough to watch.
First of all, we have to admit, collegefootballfan.com committed our biggest penalty ever. We arrived at 11:07 into the first period. Did not realize that South Alabama no longer played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Found the traffic basically non-resistant as I got closer to that destination. Now we realize, they don’t even play a bowl game there anymore. The 68 Ventures Bowl will be played here on the South Alabama campus at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Wednesday, December 17.
Anyway, the score remained 0-0 when finally seated. At Whitney-Hancock Stadium, Arkansas State punted, and South Alabama started from its 24. Got penalized ten yards more for holding by the kicking team. Numerous yellow flags turned out to be a sign of many more to come. The Jags drove to the Red Wolves nine. Kentrell Bullock took it over from there to put USA up, 7-0, with 2:50 left in the first quarter. The teams exchanged punts heading on into the second.
South Alabama has a problem here, “hear?”
Arkansas State started to drive at the South Alabama 45 after a 22-yard punt. With the aid of a roughing the passer penalty after a six-yard catch and defensive pass interference on the next play, the Red Wolves pressed on to Jaguar ten. After a loss, the Red Wolves settled for a 25-yard FG by Clune Van Andel to close the score, 7-3. At this point, penalties already prevailed for both teams. With ASU pass-oriented according to pre-game radio analysts and USA run-oriented, both hurt themselves with numerous, mindless penalties.
Most mistakes for South Alabama could be attributable to HC Major Applewhite. Procedure penalties galore indicate a lack of discipline. The stadium wasn’t deafening by any means. Inexcusable for a team under a HC of six seasons in FBS football. Four here in Mobile. While penalty yards climbed for both teams, Arkansas State under HC Butch Jones with five of 16 years as HC at ASU and three other FBS programs, offensive yards at the half totaled only 124 for ASU and 128 for USA. The 252 total yards of offense in the first half only exceeded the penalized yards in this game by 31. Applewhite played QB at Texas during his college career. Strategies and coaching capabilities will weigh heavily on Jaguars’ fan-base now for Applewhite’s future with the Jaguar program.
Unusual observation on this end here
After a long drive down to Mobile to attend this one, we ate on the fly in the car. Hungry at halftime, as we rarely do, I found a short concession stand line. All it had were three choices of chicken finger baskets: three, five, or seven chicken fingers. I selected a honey mustard as my sauce compared to the “saucy”-described “foo” sauce. Have to admit, the fingers tasted great – meaty, tasty chicken meat, not overwhelmed with breadcrumbs. The five-piece option satisfied the appetite with a big bottle of Smart Water. They only offered two different waters as drink options. Got to watch the A1C any way per the doctor, but Chicken Fingers at Whitney-Hancock Stadium definitely hit the spot!
Arkansas State challenges to no avail
ASU held USA to punt after a three-and-out to start the third. Starting the next possession from their 21, the converted on a fourth and seven to the 29 on a pass to WR Corey Rucker. On third and goal at the five, Jaylen Raynor’s pass went incomplete, and the Red Wolves settled to kick a 22-yard FG. Blocked! The Jags started from their 20. Punted from their 47. Arkansas State started from the 11. However, USA DB Nehimiah Chandler thwarted the effort right there with an INT at the ASU 42. Five plays later, PJ Martin ran around the right side for the Jags. He bumped off a would-be tackler to the outside and ran 27 yards for a 14-3 South Alabama lead going into the final period.
Arkansas State finds some life
To start the fourth, Arkansas converted a fourth and two at the 46 with a seven-yard run to continue to drive. With 10:43 to go, Van Andel made good on a 37-yard FG to close the gap, 14-6. South Alabama started from its 25, but SACK! They punted from the eight to put Arkansas State at their 48 with 8:31 left. On the first play, Raynor raced 42 yards to the Jaguar six. WR Hunter Summers hauled in a six-yard scoring pass from Raynor on the next. A two-point conversion pass to tie the score fell incomplete. The visiting Red Wolves still trailed by two with 7:51 on the clock, 14-12.
South Alabama looked to control the ball to run out the clock. On a fourth and three at the Jag 24, offsides defense. First down? Yes, but an unsportsmanlike call came against HC Major Applewhite. He screamed something at an official close by. So, the Jags backed up 15 yards to their 34. Martin eventually took the ball to the ASU ten but out came a flag. Holding against the Jaguars. At the two-minute time-out, South Alabama had third and goal at the Arkansas State 20. At 1:50, they set up for a field goal at the ASU 11 on fourth and goal. ASU called its first time out. Hamilton Di Boyan came in to put South Alabama up by five on a 29-yarder – MISSED! ASU had the ball again on its 20 with 1:50 to play and two timeouts remaining.
Arkansas State rallies
Jaylen Raynor completed four passes and ran for 14 to get his Red Wolves to the South Alabama 34. With one minute to play, USA called its first time-out. Two running plays to the 23 gave Arkansas State another first down and South Alabama called another TO. With a three-yard pick-up to the 20, Raynor called time-out with three seconds remaining. Van Andel came in to nail the door shut on South Alabama as the Red Wolves celebrated their ride back to Jonesboro with a 15-14 last-second victory. Both Sun Belt teams, Arkansas State stands 3-4, 2-2. South Alabama’s record goes to 1-5, 0-3. They’ve lost five straight since their season opening win over FCS Morgan State.
Looking to WEEK Nine
South Alabama looks to get on a winning track when they play SBC foe Georgia State (1-5, 0-2) in Atlanta. ASU returns to Jonesboro to take on Georgia Southern (2-4, 0-2). Both teams seen this evening play in the Sun Belt’s Western Division. Winners of the East and West divisions in the SBC play on Friday December 5 for the conference title at a home team site to be determined. Probably neither of these two teams.
Slight change in Our WEEK Nine plans
After we add our review of Game 725, Delaware at Jacksonville State, we’ve already attended, we have a blockbuster change for Saturday, October 18. Though we had a great one already planned to see No. 14 Missouri for an annual trip to Auburn with our friends Charle and Lynda Murren, the late kick-off added some complications to our trip to Auburn. After a lot of consideration for an option, only one made sense. Instead of traveling somewhere else and seeing some so-so games, we decided to take the best option for collegefootballfan.com. Unbelievably, we’re staying close to home. SEC game between two ranked teams right in downtown Nashville – No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt. Never thought we’d see a game with two highly ranked SEC teams in the Music City, but here it is! We’re going!
Our real reason for seeing this game in Mobile
We traveled north the next morning to attend the game to be played between Jacksonville State and Delaware who we will record as our 136th FBS team. However, we’ve seen the Fighting Blue Hens play as an FCS member 21 times before. Prior to leaving Mobile in the morning though, we looked forward to another stop. We planned to visit the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park nearby. Our good and late friend, Tom Ables, also known as “Mr. San Diego State” served aboard USS Alabama in WWII.
After discharge from the Navy after the war, Tom went home to San Diego. Starting as a sports reporter for the San Deigo State student paper, he attended 788 Aztec football games up until his final week when he passed at the age of 91 in 2017. Still in touch with his son Ken, we plan to get together for our 788th game in 2027 at an Aztec game in honor of Tom. Looking forward to planning that trip.
Finishing up136 teams – there’s a lot of history to share on how this was done
Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having now seen every FBS team play over the years! Who else can say that?
