Defense step up to close curtain on Alabama State 21-2 in Gulf Coast Classic

MOBILE – In a game against the two remaining undefeated teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Southern (5-0, 3-0 SWAC) came out unscathed with a 21-2 victory over Alabama State in the Gulf Coast Classic, Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.
The victory sends Alabama State (4-1, 2-1) home with its first SWAC loss of the season. Also, the win marks the first time Southern has been 5-0 since the 2003 season, when the Jaguars won the SWAC and Black College National titles.
Southern got its second defensive shutout effort of the season, led in a big way by senior free safety Jarmaul George and junior strong safety Glenn Bell. Bell paced the defensive attack with 10 total tackles, including a game-high, seven solo tackles and a tackle for loss, George added six tackles and one of Southern’s two interceptions.
Sophomore linebacker Gary Chapman iced the game for Southern when he intercepted ASU quarterback Chris Mitchell with less than five minutes to play.
“To God be the glory,” said Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves. “These guys showed a lot of character. We didn’t really have a great week of practice but they came out and set the tone and did what they were coached to do all week.”
Southern gave up 175 yards rushing but held ASU running back Jay Peck to just 42 yards on 16 attempts. ASU’s rushing attack was led by quarterback Alex Engram, who rushed 12 times for 77 yards. He was only sacked once.
Offensively, Southern out gained Alabama State with 387 yards of total offense, while the Hornets had 259. Southern got a great effort from running back Darren Coates who served as a dual threat with 70 yards rushing on 13 attempts and 119 yards receiving on five receptions.
Senior wide receiver Gerard Landry kept his streak of 30 consecutive games with at least one catch alive. He also caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee with 3:08 left to play in the fourth quarter to help put ASU away for good by putting Southern ahead 21-2. Landry has caught a touchdown pass in all five of Southern’s games this season.
“It was a great call by the coach,” Lee said. “Landry ran a good route and was able to bring the ball down for a touchdown. I told Landry before the play started that big time players step up in big time games, and that’s what he did.”
The score came on a fade route in which Landry out-jumped an ASU defender and caught the ball off his helmet.
Lee completed 16 of 29 passes for 242 yards, and a score while rushing for another score in the second quarter to open to extend the SU lead at 14-0 (to Gerard Landry) and three interceptions.
After an ASU drive that was stopped short of a touchdown on a fourth and three stop by Southern, the Hornets turned their turnover into a positive forcing the Jaguars into a safety. On the play Coates was stopped in the end zone by ASU linebacker Leland Jones after taking the hand-off from Lee. The safety was ASU’s first of the season.
“At that time we were facing adversity,” said Glenn Bell. “In the preseason coach Richardson brought a movie for us to watch and I can’t remember the name of it, but I remember one scene when a guy said build a brick wall.”
George intercepted ASU quarterback Chris Mitchell as he attempted a play-action on the first drive of the second quarter. The interception set Southern up to score on a 21-yard run from Brian Threat. Southern led 7-0 as the touchdown capped a six play, 55 yard drive which spanned 2:01. George’s now has four interceptions on the season.
Southern totaled 49 plays, gaining 241 yards total offense, while ASU gained 82 yards on 27 plays. Southern had 111 rushing yards and 130 passing yards. The run game was led by Threat and Lee, who both scored touchdowns. Southern led 14-0 at halftime and true-freshman kicker/punter Josh Duran was two of two on extra point attempts for the first time this season.