Jaguars see some positives

 
 
Although the Jaguar football team suffered a 66-21 loss to the University of New Mexico in their season opener, Jaguar fans should not be too discouraged because there were some positives to take away from the loss.
 
Southern finished last season seventh in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in third down conversions only 31.8 percent of the time, but against the Lobos, a Football Bowl Subdivision team, the Jaguars were able to convert 53.8 percent of the time, and as of right now that is among the top in the SWAC.
 
The Jaguars third down efficiency could have been close to 70 percent if it weren’t for two passes that fell into the hands of SU receivers.
 
Southern, successfully scored 3 of 4 attempts inside the red zone against the Lobos and could perfected their scoring drives, if they chose the field goal instead of the touchdown on fourth down.
 
“I think we had a lot of positive things that we have been working on during the process of the offseason ever since our last game against Grambling,” said head coach Stump Mitchell.
 
Southern Quarterback Dray Joseph comes home with a higher completion rate of 63.2 percent over last season’s overall of 53.3 percent, despite throwing two interceptions and a fumble.
 
“Dray understands that he has to protect the football he made one critical error on that interception, it wasn’t intentional but he should have worked in the opposite direction in which he worked,” Mitchell said about one of Joseph’s two interceptions against UNM.
 
With both first and second string running backs out with injuries, redshirt junior Darrius Coleman started and took advantage of the reps rushing for 66 yards averaging close to four yards a carry.
While redshirt sophomore Terence Clayton Jr. saw the field briefly averaging 6.5 yards a carry.
 
Assistant head coach and Running Backs coach Elvis Davis commended the effort of Coleman and Clayton saying that they both went out and showed up.
 
“The good thing about it is that we got to put it on film we got to correct the mistakes and we feel real good about the team we have,” said Davis.
 
Jerry Joseph and Sylvester Nzekwe are anticipated to be back in action, against Mississippi Valley State, but the coaching staff will decide who will get to start.
 
“We haven’t made a decision on who will start Sunday but they all will play, it’s a good problem to have, Davis said, “It’s a good thing getting Sylvester and Jerry back because you know what they can do, and I’m very excited about the running back play from these guys coming back healthy.”
 
Defensively the Jaguars had some players play the field for the first time and that experience can prove beneficial later during the season.
 
Freshmen like defensive tackle Justin Woods, defensive back Jamaal Martin and defensive back Marquon Webster saw playing time against the Lobos.
 
“I think we will be a much better team Thursday night then we were against the Lobos,” Mitchell said.