South Alabama posted the highest scoring output by an FBS team in more than 30 years on Thursday night as the Jaguars exploded for 87 points against Northwestern State.
It was the highest scoring output since Fresno State put 94 on New Mexico on Oct. 5, 1991, but even still the mark comes with an asterisk. The Jaguars scored their 87 in just 51 minutes after the fourth quarter was shortened to just six minutes with South Alabama already carrying an 80-10 lead.
The Jags scored their fist two touchdowns before their second play from scrimmage. The game opened with a 62-yard punt return touchdown and then, after a Jaguars interception, Gio Lopez found Jeremiah Webb for a 39-yard touchdown on USA's first play.
South Alabama scored on every possession but two: the first ended on a 50-yard missed field goal, and the second on a kneel down to mercifully end the blowout.
In between, South Alabama scored touchdowns on five consecutive drives before they ran out the clock, and also posted a string of three consecutive touchdown drives in the first half.
Northwestern State simply could not tackle South Alabama. The Jaguars scored on two 1-play drives, two 2-play drives, plus six more drives that lasted between three and five plays.
For the evening, Lopez completed 15-of-19 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns, while eight Jaguars combined to rush 34 times for 363 yards and six more scores. Three Jags broke off runs of at least 45 yards, and six receivers caught passes of at least 18 yards.
Northwestern State's special teams and its offense also provided significant help to South Alabama's cause. In addition to the punt return score, NSU threw one pick-six, served up two interceptions in their own territory, and also fumbled in their own territory. Combined with the punt return and the pick-six, South Alabama scored five of their 12 touchdowns while requiring only 65 yards of offense.
South Alabama had been 0-2 on the season, opening the Major Applewhite era with losses to North Texas and Ohio. Northwestern State is 0-3 on the season; their points against average moves from 49.5 to 62 after Thursday night.
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