MOBILE, Alabama — Gio Lopez threw three touchdown passes and Fluff Bothwell ran for 143 yards and two scores — in the first half — as South Alabama rolled over FCS member Northwestern State 87-10 on Thursday night, setting the school’s scoring record and giving new coach Major Applewhite his first win.

Jamaal Pritchett scored a touchdown on a 62-yard punt after South Alabama’s defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession and the Jaguars (1-2) took a 7-0 lead after just 96 seconds.

Jaden Voisin intercepted a pass from JT Fayard to give South Alabama the ball at Northwestern State’s 39-yard line. Lopez scored on the next play with Jeremiah Webb for a touchdown and the Jaguars took a 14-0 lead at 10:58. Lopez threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end DJ Thomas-Jones to give the Jaguars a 21-3 lead with 5:07 left in the quarter.

From there, things only went downhill for Northwestern State (0-3). The team trailed 24-10 after the first half, 52-10 at halftime and 80-10 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Lopez completed 15 of 19 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns. Bothwell did his damage on seven carries before sitting out the second half. Kentrel Bullock ran eight times for 102 yards and two touchdowns. PJ Martin and Jarvis Durr also scored touchdowns. The Jaguars finished the game with 620 total yards, 363 of which were on the ground.

Fayard completed 9 of 23 passes with two interceptions for 165 total yards. He threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Myles Kitt-Denton.

South Alabama’s previous high came in back-to-back weeks last season – 55-7 against UL Monroe and 55-3 against Southern Mississippi. The 52-point win over Southern Miss was the school’s biggest victory to date.

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