Photo: Southern offensive lineman Rafael Louis leads the way for running back Darren Coates against Alabama State on Saturday. By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Southern’s offense has been on the field for 372 plays in five games this season.
Six offensive linemen have been on the field for those plays.
Plus, there are three more games remaining, starting with Saturday’s homecoming game with Alabama A&M, before the No. 25 Jaguars get an open Saturday. SU has practiced since Aug. 2.
“Somebody has to be looking over them,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.
Four linemen have yet to have a break: left tackle Trent Thomas, a former tight end; left guard Rafael Louis, a former tackle; center Demarcus Stewart, a former right guard who moved back to his old spot; and right tackle Myles Williams.
Senior right guard Reuben Oliver has, on occasion, been spelled by redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart.
“At this point, they’ve logged a lot of practice time,” Richardson said. “A lot of them are tired. We haven’t had an off date. A lot of them are hurting. We realize that. I have to respect that.”
“I respect their heart,” first-year offensive line coach Damon Nivens said. “They’re playing through it. &hellip I tell them, ‘We play for 60 minutes and you have to stick together.’”
The Jaguars lost six veteran linemen to grades since the spring. Plus, true freshman Brian Bridges did not clear after initially practicing.
“We had low numbers, so we knew, in the summer, we had to work twice as hard — put in extra work after we put in the original conditioning work,” Louis said.
Saturday, in a 21-2 victory over Alabama State, Demarcus Stewart took a helmet to his thigh. Thomas had a bruise to his lower back.
“They came back in the second half and said, ‘Coach, I’m ready to go,’” Nivens said.
Despite not having depth up front, SU has substantially bettered its running game and has both the second-best rushing offense (176.2 yards per game) and total offense (408.4 ypg) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
“Every game, we’re getting better and better and better and in better shape,” Louis said.
SU has outscored the opposition 65-18 in the second half.
“I’m proud of our team, because we were counting on certain people but we’ve had people step in and we’re improving each week,” Williams said.
“We’re hanging in. We’re making each other better. With not having depth, we’re going through all the reps and it’s preparing us for games. We’re a second-half team, because we have the endurance.”
Southern has backups, but all of those are first-year players and the Jaguars have yet to be in a blowout where those players could be inserted.
“They’re still learning,” Nivens said. “They’re getting better every week. They’re going to be the future.”
Richardson said his staff has done well to scheme practices to keep linemen fresh.
“They’re finding a way to get through, and we’ve been blessed from that aspect,” Richardson said.
Luke is a force
A&M QB Kelcy Luke has thrown 14 touchdown passes this season, and two more will already tie his career-best total of 16 from last season.
“They’re playing with a lot of confidence. A lot of that is led by their quarterback Luke,” Richardson said.
An Auburn transfer who started since 2004, Luke has thrown for 5,519 yards and 50 TDs and run for 1,328 yards and another 18 TDs. He entered the season as the school’s career leader in yards, completions and attempts.
“Kelcy is the anchor,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “He’s leading them, and everybody follows his lead.”
Landry keeps going
Southern senior wide receiver Gerard Landry kept his run of a touchdown catch in every game going this season with a 23-yarder with 3:08 left in a 21-2 win over Alabama State on Saturday.
Landry had four catches for 54 yards, but the day wasn’t easy. He had his arm in a sling during the week and missed practices while getting rehab after injuring his left shoulder the week before.
“I was telling people I was going to play, but in my mind, it wasn’t looking good, because it was hurting very bad,” Landry said. “When game time came, I got it warmed up, and I was ready to go. I didn’t feel it during the game, but after the game I iced it up a little bit. It was hurting.”
Licea kicks it
A&M sophomore kicker Jeremy Licea went 1-for-3 in the regular season a year ago. The one make was a 20-yarder to beat Grambling 30-27 in overtime. He didn’t have an attempt in the final eight games.
But after getting a field-try blocked in the SWAC Championship Game, Licea made his final three of that game and has been good on all five tries — from 42, 37, 37, 36 and 25 — and is already 24-for-25 on PATs this season.
Southern’s offense has been on the field for 372 plays in five games this season.
Six offensive linemen have been on the field for those plays.
Plus, there are three more games remaining, starting with Saturday’s homecoming game with Alabama A&M, before the No. 25 Jaguars get an open Saturday. SU has practiced since Aug. 2.
“Somebody has to be looking over them,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said.
Four linemen have yet to have a break: left tackle Trent Thomas, a former tight end; left guard Rafael Louis, a former tackle; center Demarcus Stewart, a former right guard who moved back to his old spot; and right tackle Myles Williams.
Senior right guard Reuben Oliver has, on occasion, been spelled by redshirt freshman Rodrell Stewart.
“At this point, they’ve logged a lot of practice time,” Richardson said. “A lot of them are tired. We haven’t had an off date. A lot of them are hurting. We realize that. I have to respect that.”
“I respect their heart,” first-year offensive line coach Damon Nivens said. “They’re playing through it. &hellip I tell them, ‘We play for 60 minutes and you have to stick together.’”
The Jaguars lost six veteran linemen to grades since the spring. Plus, true freshman Brian Bridges did not clear after initially practicing.
“We had low numbers, so we knew, in the summer, we had to work twice as hard — put in extra work after we put in the original conditioning work,” Louis said.
Saturday, in a 21-2 victory over Alabama State, Demarcus Stewart took a helmet to his thigh. Thomas had a bruise to his lower back.
“They came back in the second half and said, ‘Coach, I’m ready to go,’” Nivens said.
Despite not having depth up front, SU has substantially bettered its running game and has both the second-best rushing offense (176.2 yards per game) and total offense (408.4 ypg) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
“Every game, we’re getting better and better and better and in better shape,” Louis said.
SU has outscored the opposition 65-18 in the second half.
“I’m proud of our team, because we were counting on certain people but we’ve had people step in and we’re improving each week,” Williams said.
“We’re hanging in. We’re making each other better. With not having depth, we’re going through all the reps and it’s preparing us for games. We’re a second-half team, because we have the endurance.”
Southern has backups, but all of those are first-year players and the Jaguars have yet to be in a blowout where those players could be inserted.
“They’re still learning,” Nivens said. “They’re getting better every week. They’re going to be the future.”
Richardson said his staff has done well to scheme practices to keep linemen fresh.
“They’re finding a way to get through, and we’ve been blessed from that aspect,” Richardson said.
Luke is a force
A&M QB Kelcy Luke has thrown 14 touchdown passes this season, and two more will already tie his career-best total of 16 from last season.
“They’re playing with a lot of confidence. A lot of that is led by their quarterback Luke,” Richardson said.
An Auburn transfer who started since 2004, Luke has thrown for 5,519 yards and 50 TDs and run for 1,328 yards and another 18 TDs. He entered the season as the school’s career leader in yards, completions and attempts.
“Kelcy is the anchor,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “He’s leading them, and everybody follows his lead.”
Landry keeps going
Southern senior wide receiver Gerard Landry kept his run of a touchdown catch in every game going this season with a 23-yarder with 3:08 left in a 21-2 win over Alabama State on Saturday.
Landry had four catches for 54 yards, but the day wasn’t easy. He had his arm in a sling during the week and missed practices while getting rehab after injuring his left shoulder the week before.
“I was telling people I was going to play, but in my mind, it wasn’t looking good, because it was hurting very bad,” Landry said. “When game time came, I got it warmed up, and I was ready to go. I didn’t feel it during the game, but after the game I iced it up a little bit. It was hurting.”
Licea kicks it
A&M sophomore kicker Jeremy Licea went 1-for-3 in the regular season a year ago. The one make was a 20-yarder to beat Grambling 30-27 in overtime. He didn’t have an attempt in the final eight games.
But after getting a field-try blocked in the SWAC Championship Game, Licea made his final three of that game and has been good on all five tries — from 42, 37, 37, 36 and 25 — and is already 24-for-25 on PATs this season.
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