Tristan Holliday
BATON ROUGE, LA — Southern fell to 1-2 on the season after a frustrating night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, where turnovers and missed opportunities doomed the Jaguars in a 30-7 loss to Alabama State.
The Hornets took control early with two first-half field goals from Brandon Gilliam, sending Southern into the locker room trailing just 6-0 despite moving the ball effectively at times. The Jaguars opened the third quarter with promise, marching 69 yards and capping the drive with Cam’Ron McCoy’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Cam Jefferson that briefly gave Southern a 7-6 lead.
Momentum shifted quickly, though. On the next drive, Alabama State’s Marcus Harris II broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run. From there, turnovers buried Southern—McCoy lost two fumbles in quick succession, both deep in Jaguar territory, leading directly to 10 Hornet points. ASU quarterback Andrew Body later added two touchdown passes, stretching the lead to 30-7 and sealing the victory.
Despite outgaining Alabama State on the ground (179 to 171), Southern was undone by four turnovers (two interceptions, two lost fumbles) and missed special-teams chances, including a blocked 31-yard field goal attempt.
Keys to the Game
Turnovers Tell the Story
Southern turned the ball over four times, leading to 17 Alabama State points. McCoy’s back-to-back fumbles in the third quarter flipped momentum after Southern had briefly taken the lead.
Special Teams Woes
Southern’s kicking game faltered, with a blocked 31-yard field goal and a missed 37-yarder. Meanwhile, Alabama State’s Brandon Gilliam converted three field goals to help his team control the scoreboard.
Explosive Plays by Alabama State
Harris II’s 47-yard touchdown run and Body’s deep passing connections (198 yards, 2 TDs) broke open what had been a defensive struggle in the first half.
Missed Opportunities in the Red Zone
Southern went just 1-for-2 in red zone scoring, while Alabama State cashed in on 5-of-6 trips, showing the difference in efficiency.
Defensive Strain from Short Fields
Alabama State’s average starting field position in the second half was inside Southern territory thanks to turnovers. That left the Jaguar defense with little margin for error.
UP NEXT
Southern will be back in action on Saturday, September 13th, as they travel to the West Coast to face the Fresno State Bulldogs inside Valley Children’s Stadium. The Game is slated for 7 PM PST.
