Key Matchup: UAB QB Jonathan Perry vs. USC Secondary
By Zach Crowl
Two weeks ago the University of Alabama Birmingham took on the Trojans of Troy in exciting fashion. What made this game exciting was the play of junior quarterback Jonathan Perry, who attempted to dig his fellow Blazers out of a seventeen point hole. Perry kept his cool, throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns in a tough 39-29 loss. The junior quarterback connected with his two favorite targets, senior Patrick Hearn and junior Jackie Williams for a combined 265 yards in a valiant effort that came up just short.
However, while Perry may have been UAB’s saving grace for most of the game, he was also their ultimate downfall. It only took one interception in the fourth quarter to undo all of the positive work he had put into the comeback trail. When Perry went in on the next drive, he coughed up the football and sealed the game for the Trojans. Nonetheless, the Blazers’ quarterback is an explosive threat to be reckoned with. He loves to sling the ball around and his receivers seem to know how to break out the big plays. The gunslinger will look to continue racking up yards against South Carolina in UAB’s pass-happy offense, but he will need to take care of the football if he wants to see true success.
Heading into week three it looks as if South Carolina may have one of the best defensive secondaries in the SEC, if not the nation. Each week they seem to be shutting down opposing quarterbacks with a beast-like tenacity. They proved to be a pretty strong squad against Jordan Rodgers and Vanderbilt, but still showed some hiccups from inexperience. There were also 333 passing yards allowed by the secondary against East Carolina, but the young group of corners held firm when it counted. It seems that the Gamecock’s secondary has become more aggressive each week.
Three of the four starters in this unit recorded an interception last weekend, and this weekend shouldn’t look any different. Expect the ‘Cocks to stay hungry, force a couple of turnovers, and make Saturday a tough night for Jonathan Perry.
Edge: Last week’s matchup between the student’s and the 100-degree heat was more closely contested than any matchup from this game. The Gamecock’s secondary will shut down Perry and UAB’s passing attack with ease.
