Three lessons from South Alabama’s 46-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe

South Alabama is back to even after that Smother Louisiana-Monroe 46-17 on homecoming Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

The Jaguars (4-4 overall, 3-1 Sun Belt Conference) rushed for 355 yards, the most ever against an FBS opponent, and defeated the Warhawks (5-2, 3-1) 34-0 in the second half. A red zone turnover and some big plays had given ULM a 17-12 lead at halftime, but those would be the last points South Alabama allowed.

South Alabama wraps up its three-game home stretch against Georgia Southern next Saturday. To that end, here are three conclusions from a thorough beating from ULM:

1. It’s hard to play a more dominant second half than South Alabama

After ULM noticed a five-point halftime lead, the Jaguars controlled the final two quarters from the start. South Alabama scored touchdowns all three times it had the ball in the third quarter, outscoring the Warhawks 186 yards to minus-7. The Jaguars scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter and ultimately gained 260 of their 355 rushing yards after halftime. ULM moved the ball better in the fourth quarter, but South Alabama used Wesley Miller’s interception at the Warhawks’ 28, a fourth-down stop at the USA 7 and Ty Goodwill’s interception in the end zone to keep Bryant Vincent’s team off the scoreboard to keep. South Alabama’s second half on Saturday ranks up there with the first half against Appalachian State on September 19 – when the Jaguars built a 28-7 lead en route to a 48-14 victory – as the most remarkable piece of football it has ever seen. has played all season.

2. The Jaguars running game got going without much help from Gio Lopez

Lopez didn’t run at all in the first half — even when pass protection broke down — and only three times in the game, for 25 yards and one touchdown. South Alabama didn’t need much from its quarterback’s legs, though, as Kentrel Bullock, Fluff Bothwell and Braylon McReynolds ran almost at will. Major Applewhite’s Jaguars used pace to reach the second level in many cases before the Warhawks could even settle. Bullock (141 yards) and Bothwell (119) both averaged more than seven yards per carry and scored two touchdowns, while McReynolds — plagued by injuries much of the year — contributed 73 yards and his first career rushing touchdown . The offensive line of tackles Jordan Davis and Malachi Carney, guards Kenton Jerido and Reed Buys and center Malachi Preciado pounded the ULM defensive front for big yards all day and allowed the Warhawks to make just one tackle for loss.

3. South Alabama continues its season-long up-and-down trend

Saturday’s win was the second straight for South Alabama, which started the season with two losses, then won two games and then lost two more. Since winning five straight games at the end of the 2023 regular season, the Jaguars have not had a winning streak or losing streak for more than two games. The strange trend has limited both the floor and ceiling of the schedule, but with four games left this season there is a chance to change that for better or worse. ULM won five of its first six games this year by capitalizing on opponent mistakes and making some of their own, though South Alabama turned that formula on its head in the second half on Saturday. The Jaguars will need at least a portion of their final four games to reach the postseason for the third straight year, but can make a championship run if they play with the potential they showed after Saturday’s halftime.

NEXT: South Alabama hosts Georgia Southern (5-3, 3-1) on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.