South Alabama couldn’t get off the field enough on defense and couldn’t make enough plays on offense in a 27-20 loss to Ohio at Peden Stadium on Saturday.

The Jaguars (0-2) played without starting quarterback Gio Lopez, sidelined with turf toe. However, Major Applewhite’s team had opportunities they couldn’t cash in behind backup quarterback Bishop Davenport.

The Jaguars had back-to-back possessions in the second half that began at the Ohio 41 and the Ohio 49, but ended up with just three total points. The homestanding Bobcats, meanwhile, ate up the clock with a 7-minute touchdown drive to begin the second half and an 8-minute field goal drive in the fourth quarter.

“It was disappointing,” Applewhite said. “There were mistakes in the game, but in terms of the way they played, I was proud of the way they competed. … We’re maturing as a ball club in terms of poise and composure in these late fourth quarter games. But we didn’t make plays.”

Ohio’s Parker Navarro passed for 204 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for a score. His 10-yard touchdown run put the Bobcats on top 24-10 with 8:39 left in the third quarter.

South Alabama answered with Davenport’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jamaal Pritchett for a 24-17 score at the 1:52 mark of the third. On the Bobcats’ next play, the Jaguars jumped on a fumble — forced by Tyler Thomas and recovered by Carlos Johnson — at the Ohio 41, but could manage only Laith Marjan’s 38-yard field goal to pull within 24-20 with 14:15 to play.

Ohio (1-1) then went three-and-out, with an unnecessary roughness penalty resulting in South Alabama taking over near midfield after the punt. However, Davenport fumbled (he recovered) on first down, then threw back-to-back incomplete passes before the Jaguars punted.

Ohio then took 7:54 off the cold on a 14-play drive that ended in Gianni Spetic’s 23-yard field goal and a 27-20 lead with 3:15 left. A holding penalty and a false start undermined any chance for South Alabama to move the ball before punting, and Ohio was able to run out the clock.

“When we get it down to a four-point game, get the ball at the 50-yard line, we go three and out, then it’s a seven-point game,” Applewhite said. “We get the ball back again, a chance to go tie it and we back up eight yards. So, just some untimely execution on each side of the ball, in terms of what we need to do to play complimentary football.”

Ohio rushed for 200 yards as a team, 74 by Anthony Tyus, 73 by Rickey Hunt and 63 by Navarro. The Bobcats outgained the Jaguars 404 yards to 336.

Davenport, a redshirt sophomore who transferred in from Utah State prior to the 2023 season, completed 24 of 38 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in his first significant action for South Alabama. Pritchett caught eight passes for 67 yards and a score, while freshman running back Fluff Bothwell rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Lopez injured his right big toe in last week’s 52-38 loss to North Texas, in which he set a South Alabama program record with 432 yards passing and 497 yards of total offense. It’s unclear when he might return, so for now, it’s Davenport’s show.

“I’m proud of the way he competed, proud of the way he played, proud of the opportunities he gave the offense,” Applewhite said. “… I expect no matter what the position is, if there’s a backup that comes in, I expect them to come in and perform because they’re here and they’re great players and they work their tail off. … We just need to make some plays around him.”

Ohio led 17-10 at halftime, taking advantage of a muffed punt by South Alabama for one touchdown and a crisp two-minute drill for the other. The Bobcats led 3-0 after one quarter on Spetic’s 45-yard field goal, set up by a 59-yard run by Hunt.

South Alabama’s Pritchett fumbled a punt at his 18 early in the second, leading to a 7-yard touchdown run by Tyus. With 10:43 to go before the half, Ohio led 10-0.

South Alabama answered with Laith Marjan’s 27-yard field goal and Bothwell’s 8-yard touchdown run to tie the game 10-10 with 1:25 left in the half. However, the Bobcats sliced through the Jaguars’ defense for the go-ahead touchdown, Navarro’s 33-yard pass to Chase Hendricks.

South Alabama falls to 0-2 for the first time since 2018. The Jaguars have a short week before hosting Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.