SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 14, 2013
South Alabama 31, Western Kentucky 24: Trey Fetner scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:38 remaining and the Jaguars rallied to beat the visiting Hilltoppers in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
Western Kentucky (1-2, 0-1 SBC) drove to the Jaguars’ 13-yard-line on its final drive, but Tyrell Pearson intercepted Brandon Doughty’s pass in the end zone to end the game. Pearson had two interceptions for the Jaguars (2-1, 1-0), who outscored Western Kentucky 21-3 in the second half.
Ross Matheny threw for 193 yards and rushed for a touchdown, and Jay Jones had 11 carries for 49 yards and a score to lead South Alabama’s comeback. Western Kentucky won most of the statistical categories – including total yards, first downs and time of possession – but the Hilltoppers were held to Garrett Schwettman’s 44-yard field goal in the second half.
Metheny tied the game at 7 on a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter before the Hilltoppers moved ahead on Doughty's 5-yard touchdown pass to Nicholas Norris with 32 seconds left in the quarter. Doughty was 27-of-47 for 282 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions for Western Kentucky, which committed seven turnovers in last week's 52-20 loss at Tennessee.
The Hilltoppers took a 21-10 lead with 5:47left in the second quarter when Doughty capped a 6-play, 68-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Norris. South Alabama dominated the second half and tied the game at 24 on Aleem Sunanon's 37-yard field goal with 12:28 left in the fourth quarter.