South Alabama is bowl-eligible for a third straight season after pulling away from Southern Miss for a 35-14 victory on Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Gio Lopez threw three touchdown passes and the defense scored one of its own as the Jaguars (6-5, 5-2 Sun Belt) got over the .500 mark for the first time all season. South Alabama led just 14-11 at halftime, but outscored the lowly Golden Eagles (1-10, 0-7) 21-3 in the second half.

The Jaguars can secure a 7-win regular season for just the second time in program history by beating Texas State at home on Black Friday. Before that, here are three takeaways from South Alabama’s 21-point win in Hattiesburg:

1. Jaguars finally put the hammer down in the second half

South Alabama blew fourth-quarter leads in losses to Arkansas State and Georgia Southern earlier this season, and nearly did so against Louisiana. But the Jaguars never let it to get to that point on Saturday, scoring a touchdown just four plays into the second half to go up 10 and holding Southern Miss to just only points after halftime. The offense added another quick-strike touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, while the defense had four sacks and a Wesley Miller pick-six. The opponent had something to do with the Jaguars’ success, but South Alabama took care of business and never looked like it was in position to lose the game.

2. South Alabama still has goals beyond just a bowl game

The Jaguars are in the postseason for the third straight year, and would improve their position at least slightly — and perhaps significantly — by beating Texas State next week and getting to 7-5. South Alabama is still alive for the Sun Belt West championship, though it needs some help. If the Jaguars win over the Bobcats on Friday and Louisiana loses to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, USA will be division champions and play in the Sun Belt title game on Dec. 7. (South Alabama would win a three-way tie with Louisiana and Arkansas State — which is also 5-2 in league play and hosts Old Dominion on Saturday — based on division record.)

3. A good season could have been truly special with a few breaks

Major Applewhite deserves a lot of credit for keeping his team on track despite some real low points this year, including an 0-2 start and the aforementioned fourth-quarter failures vs. Arkansas State and Georgia Southern. South Alabama is 6-5, but could have been 9-2 with wins in those two games and if Lopez doesn’t suffer turf toe in the season-opener vs. North Texas (the Jaguars probably beat Ohio in Week 2 with a healthy Lopez). South Alabama will have to replace some cornerstone players in the offseason — wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett, offensive lineman Reed Buys, defensive lineman Wy’Kevious Thomas and safety Jaden Voisin among them, plus perhaps a few who might leave via the transfer portal — but this program seems to be firmly established as a Sun Belt contender going forward.

Next up: South Alabama finishes the regular season at home Friday vs. Texas State (6-5, 4-3). Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium, with live streaming via ESPN+.