USA Jags win 5th straight game 64-6

MOBILE, Ala. - For the last few weeks, University of South Alabama head football coach Joey Jones has been asking for his offensive unit to show improvement in the passing game. Quarterback Myles Gibbon and wide receiver Courtney Smith didn't waste any time giving the Jaguar mentor what he wanted Saturday.

The two hooked up on touchdown passes of 64 and 60 yards on the first two offensive plays of the game, sparking the Jaguars' 64-6 victory over Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

"We came out and executed very well. The protection got better, and that's where it all starts in the passing game," Jones stated. "We had some wide open guys down the field on the first two passes, and Myles did a good job hitting Courtney. We just executed well."

Smith would finish with three receptions for 131 yards while recording his first multi-score game of the season. Actually, all four of his touchdown catches have covered 60 yards or more this fall.

USA (5-0) would go on to score 30 points in the opening quarter while outgaining the Blue Devils (5-4) 217-8. Brandon Ross extended the advantage to 20-0 with four-and-a-half minutes remaining with a two-yard touchdown run one play after Brennan Sim completed a 40-yard pass to Lamontis Gardner. On the ensuing FUMA possession, Zach Brownell intercepted a pass and ran it back 30 yards to set up a 24-yard Michel Chapuseaux field goal, while two plays after that Montavious Williams picked up a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.

"I saw the ball pop up and I just grabbed it. All I thought was end zone, just run as fast as you can to get there," Williams observed. "I've never scored a touchdown before so I'm happy I did today."

Santuan McGee and Anthony Mostella would tack on second-quarter scores - the latter on Sim's first career touchdown pass -for a 44-0 lead at the break, and when Ralph Turner returned the opening kickoff of the second half 85 yards for a touchdown the advantage would grow to 51 points. Clifton Crews supplied a second defensive touchdown when he fell on a bad snap in the end zone with just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter, while Kelly Vail caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from Nick Owens to end the scoring with 13-and-a-half minutes to go in the contest.

USA will celebrate Homecoming Weekend when Milford (N.Y.) Academy visits for a 4 p.m. contest at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Click on the video for highlights of the game.