Rapid Reaction: What we learned from South Alabama 41, Ohio 36

It wasn't always easy and definitely wasn't always pretty but the Jaguars held on for a 41-36 win over the Bobcats on a steamy Saturday night in Mobile. The offense, behind emergency starter Jared Hollins, rolled to 458 yards while the defense, at times put in bad positions by special teams miscues, created two turnovers and had just enough success to put South Alabama over the top. Guaranteed no worse than an even out-of-conference record, the Jags are on pace to achieve bowl eligibility this season….maybe even more.

Let's see what the takeaways are from this one that may help them in that quest.

The quarterback position is strong

Jared Hollins was pressed into starting duty due to an undisclosed injury to Bishop Davenport and performed very well, hitting 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown while displaying the arm talent that really sets him apart. Davenport, for his part, has completed 67.8% of his passes for 450 yards and three touchdowns in his two starts. Davenport's outstanding trait is his ability to execute the read option and create on the run when the play breaks down. The two of them provide head coach/offensive coordinator Major Applewhite two talented options to trot out against opposing defenses.

The newest Jaguar tradition: Quarterbacks' first starts must come against the Bobcats

Bishop Davenport had to sit out this game with an undisclosed injury, so Jared Hollins got the first start of his career. The parallel to Davenport's first start under similar circumstances two years ago is striking, to say the least. Back then, a dinged up Gio Lopez had to sit out while Davenport came up short in Athens, Ohio. Hollins obviously had a better result but in a game that was nearly as difficult. With the Bobcats not on any future schedules, either Hollins will have to remain starter for all future years or this tradition may not be one that lasts.

Regardless of quarterback, the running game leads the way

South Alabama came into the game averaging 211.5 yards and managed to raise that to 229.7 after they hung 266 on the Ohio defense and there were more yards to be had if Hollins had kept the ball on a couple of read option plays. The offensive line of Reese Osei-Wusu, Jamal Siler, Kenton Jerido, Shalik Hubbard and Ethan Hubbard and the three-headed rushing monster of PJ Martin, Keenan Phillips and Trae'von Dunbar are playing well enough to carry this identity throughout the season.

The ball isn't changing hands very often

When it comes to the Jaguars, no one should mention the T-word in regards to ball security so as to not break the magic spell. Let's just say zero isn't sustainable, but it is the goal and so far the mission is being accomplished. Defensively the Jags have produced four takeaways in three games on one fumble recovery and three interceptions, although there have been four additional fumbles by the opposition that didn't bounce USA's way. Generating turnovers is a hallmark of Todd Orlando's defense and hopefully something we'll see more of as the season progresses.

Special teams has been good, but....

Against Ohio, Davis Little had an excellent bounceback game as he was perfect on five extra points and his two field goal attempts. The rest of the unit had a night to forget. Aleksi Pulkkinen had a costly shank that helped Ohio to one of its quick third quarter touchdowns and the coverage units fell victim to the Bobcats' excellent kick returner DJ James-Hamilton. Those gaffes boosted the Bobcats out of the halftime break and nearly erased the Jaguars 17-point lead. Ohio certainly had one of the best special team units South Alabama will see this year, but those miscues serve notice that as good as they've been this year, there is still work to be done by the Jaguars, although it bears pointing out that their recovery of two onside kicks late in the game is responsible for the win as much as anything.