It's time for Division-I competition: South Alabama stops Nicholls State, 39-21

So now, at least we know.

After nine games, all wins, a lot of speculation and a ton of questions about the level of competition they faced, we finally know what South Alabama is.

USA carved another notch in its rapidly-growing football reputation Saturday, overcoming a slow start and going toe-to-toe with 1-AA Nicholls State, before slamming the door on the Colonels in a 39-21 win at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

“In our ninth game we beat a well-coached 1-AA team’” said visibly exhausted Jaguars Head Coach Joey Jones. “It was a great win for our football program.”

I beg to differ, coach. It was more than just a great win. South Alabama is ready … ready for the next step in their brand new football saga that’s coming soon to a stadium near you.

Jones won’t say it publicly, but he knows Saturday’s win … and the way his team won … over that “very well-coached 1-AA team” says one thing very loudly:

USA is already on par with the likes of Jacksonville State, which beat Ole Miss a couple of weeks ago, and … dare we say … Appalachian State, which strolled into Michigan Stadium a few short years ago and shocked the mighty Wolverines.

USA fell behind 14-7 Saturday in the first quarter before rallying for three second period TDs and a 27-14 halftime lead that they never looked back from. Kendall Houston rushed for 116 yards and two TDs, while Brandon Ross added 115 more and another touchdown to lead South Alabama.

Their performances offset the effort of the Colonels’ lightning-quick running back Jesse Turner, who scored on a 33-yard run and an electric 95-yard touchdown sprint with a screen pass that staked NSU to that first-quarter lead.

“It was great to respond the way they did,” said Jones.

USA quarterback Brennan Sim, subbing for injured starter Myles Gibbon, also threw a 47-yard touchdown to Richard Ross, while running back Santuan McGee scored on an 8-yard run and Jordan Means booted a 28-yard field goal that was wrapped around a punt blocked out of the end zone for a safety.

Nicholls State quarterback LaQuintin Caston finished with 319 yards and two touchdowns, and threw a 62-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Andrew Wynn midway through the third quarter to pull the Colonels within six points, 27-21 before US put it away.

“You learn a lot more by playing better competition,” said Sim.

“We just try to go 1-0 every week.”

They were indeed 1-0 this week, against the best team they’ve ever faced.

Make no mistake … USA is ready for the next step in its program.

Win or lose, it’s time for some D-I competition.