Three takeaways from South Alabama’s 46-17 victory over Louisiana-Monroe

South Alabama bounces back Louisiana-Monroe choke 46-17 on Saturday at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

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

South Alabama will wrap up a three-game homestand against Georgia Southern this Saturday. Before that, here are three takeaways from the thorough ULM crushing:

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

After ULM gained a 5-point lead at halftime, the Jaguars controlled the last two quarters from the beginning. South Alabama scored all three of its touchdowns when it had the ball in the third quarter and outscored the Warhawks 186 yards to minus-7. The Jaguars scored two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter and had 260 of their 355 rushing yards at halftime. ULM moved the ball better in the fourth quarter, but South Alabama used a Wesley Miller interception at the Warhawks’ 28, a Ty Goodwill interception in the end zone at the Warhawks’ 28, and a Ty Goodwill interception in the end zone that put Bryant Vincent’s team out scoreboard. South Alabama’s second half Saturday will end with the first half against Appalachian State on Sept. 19 – when the Jaguars built a 28-7 lead en route to a 48-14 victory – the greatest moment in college football history all season.

2. The Jaguars’ running game took off without much help from Gio Lopez

Lopez didn’t run at all in the first half – even when pass protection broke down – and just three times in the game for 25 yards and one touchdown. However, South Alabama didn’t need much from its quarterback’s legs, as Kentrel Bullock, Fluff Bothwell and Braylon McReynolds ran almost at will. Major Applewhite’s Jaguars used the momentum to get to the second level before the Warhawks had time to set up on many occasions. Bullock (141 yards) and Bothwell (119) averaged more than seven yards per catch and scored two touchdowns, while McReynolds – who has been struggling with injuries most of the year – gained 73 yards and scored his first career touchdown. Offensive line Jordan Davis and Malachi Carney, linebackers Kenton Jerido and Reed Buys, and center Malachi Preciado gashed ULM’s defensive front for yards all day, allowing the Warhawks to make just one tackle for a loss.

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

Saturday’s victory was the second in a row 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 longer than two games. The odd trend has limited both the base and ceiling of the program, though with four games left in the season, there’s a chance this could change, for better or for worse. ULM won five of its first six games this year, capitalizing on its opponents’ mistakes and making some of its own, although South Alabama turned that formula upside down in the second half on Saturday. The Jaguars will need at least a split in the final four games to qualify for the postseason for a third straight year, but they can win the conference championship if they play at the level they showed after Saturday’s break.

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