South Alabama achieved bowl-eligibility for the first time in six years on Saturday, cruising past Arkansas State 31-3 on a rainy day in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Jaguars are now 6-2 overall, 3-1 in the Sun Belt Conference, staying in a tie for second place in the West Division with Southern Miss. The victory was the fourth straight by South Alabama over the Red Wolves, who fall to 2-7, 1-5.

La’Damian Webb ran for 162 yards and three touchdowns for South Alabama, while Carter Bradley passed for 179 yards and another score. The Jaguars defense limited Arkansas State to minus-19 rushing yards, a program record low.

Jaguars get off to a fast start offensively

South Alabama scored on the game’s opening possession, largely thanks to a 69-yard run by Webb on the first play from scrimmage. Four plays later, Webb crashed into the end zone from the 3 for his seventh rushing touchdown of the year and a 7-0 early lead.

The Jaguars forced Arkansas State punts on the first four series of the game, and cashed in the fourth with Bradley’s 49-yard bomb to Jalen Wayne to make it 14-0 with 4:02 left in the quarter. Arkansas State added 32-yard field goal on its next possession to cut the lead to 14-3, but got no closer as South Alabama led after one quarter for the sixth time in eight games this year.

South Alabama could not sustain its offense, however. The Jaguars had 163 yards in the first quarter but just 362 in the game.

The two teams combined for 17 punts, eight for Arkansas State and seven for South Alabama

Run defense was its smothering self

Even taking out 43 yards on sacks, Arkansas State had very little room to run all night. The Red Wolves’ longest rush went for just 11 yards.

South Alabama came into the game holding opponents to just 99.9 yards per game, the 11th-best total in the country. The Jaguars lowered that total considerably, and now are allowing opponents just 85.03 yards on the ground per game.

The previous low rushing total vs. the Jaguars was 19 by Bowling Green last season and by Georgia State in 2010.

James Miller shines for ‘Swarm D’

Miller had arguably his best game as a Jaguar on Saturday.

The Indiana transfer totaled eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a half-sack and a safety. On the latter play, he and defensive end Jamie Sheriff combined to drop Arkansas State quarterback James Blackman in the end zone to make it 16-3 late in the third quarter.

Other top defensive performers for the Jaguars included Sheriff, who totaled 1.5 sacks and four tackles. South Alabama also blocked its first punt in four years when Jay’Juan Townsend got a hand on a ball and deflected it for just an 8-yard gain.

Wet conditions cause havoc on both sides

Conditions were gloomy and rainy for the first half, though the precipitation ceased in the final two quarters.

The wet conditions resulted in numerous incompletions on throws that slipped or balls that were dropped, and also a dropped punt snap that threatened to lead to an Arkansas State score just before the half. South Alabama punter Jack Brooks bobbled the snap, and then was tackled for a 13-yard loss to his 33.

Arkansas State did not score, however. Blackman threw incomplete twice, and safety Jaden Voisin dropped tight end Seydou Traore for a 4-yard loss on a screen pass. The Red Wolves ended up punting from the USA 39 with 38 seconds left in the half.

NEXT UP: South Alabama travels to Georgia Southern next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga.