Duran stars for Jaguars

• By PERRYN KEYS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 16, 2008 - UPDATED: 1:13 a.m.

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Sophomore place-kicker Josh Duran had made 7 of 9 field-goal attempts coming into Saturday’s game, but he hadn’t even tried a field goal from 40 yards or longer.

Against Alabama State, he made all three of his attempts — including one from 46 yards away at the end of the first half. Duran was the leading scorer in a defensive struggle, and he was named Gulf Coast Classic offensive player of the game.

His previous career long was 37 yards, set during last season’s Bayou Classic.

Earlier this season, Duran had twice kicked field goals of 36 yards — once against Houston on Aug. 30, then against Texas Southern on Oct. 11.

He also pinned a punt on the Hornets’ 2-yard line in the third quarter.

On third-and-2 at his 22, Alabama State quarterback Brandon Dowdell attempted a pass under pressure. SU defensive end Dexter James tipped it, and linebacker Johnathan Malveaux plucked it out of the air, returning it 15 yards for the game’s only touchdown.

Attendance for Saturday’s Gulf Coast Classic was announced at 25,387 in Ladd-Peebles Stadium — a somewhat-surprisingly high number, considering Saturday night’s weather.

The temperature at kickoff was 49 degrees and breezy, and the forecast for Sunday morning called for 38-degree weather and winds of up to 10 mph.

Still, attendance far exceeded last year’s Gulf Coast Classic, when 16,130 watched a 21-2 victory for Southern.

That game happened Sept. 29, and kickoff weather was listed 87 degrees and “hot.”