Gio Lopez threw three touchdown passes, and Fluff Bothwell rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first half as South Alabama dominated FCS-member Northwestern State 87-10 on Thursday night. This victory set a new school scoring record and marked the first win for new coach Major Applewhite.
The game started with Jamaal Pritchett returning a punt for a 62-yard touchdown after South Alabama’s defense forced a quick three-and-out on the opening possession, giving the Jaguars an early 7-0 lead. Jaden Voisin intercepted a pass from JT Fayard, setting up a quick touchdown pass from Lopez to Jeremiah Webb, extending the lead to 14-0. Lopez continued his strong performance with another touchdown pass to DJ Thomas-Jones, making it 21-3 with over five minutes left in the first quarter.
Northwestern State struggled throughout the game, falling behind 24-10 after the first quarter, 52-10 at halftime, and 80-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Lopez finished the game with 257 yards passing and four touchdowns, while Bothwell ran for 143 yards on just seven carries. Kentrel Bullock added 102 yards rushing and two touchdowns, contributing to the Jaguars’ total of 620 yards, with 363 yards on the ground.
Fayard of Northwestern State finished with 165 passing yards, two interceptions, and a 75-yard touchdown pass to Myles Kitt-Denton. South Alabama’s previous highest scoring games came last season with victories over UL Monroe and Southern Mississippi. This win over Northwestern State by a 77-point margin surpassed their previous largest margin of victory.
This game marks a significant milestone for South Alabama’s football program, showcasing an explosive offense and a dominant performance that set a new standard for the team.