Kris Campbell
Staff Writer
In a thrilling, game ending Hail Mary pass that touched the hands of three players, the Jackson State University Tigers defeated the Florida A & M University Rattlers in their season opener on Aug. 30.
Wide receiver DeSean Mckenzie scored the game-winning touchdown from a 49-yard pass by quarterback La Montiez Ivy with 1.6 seconds on the clock to end the game.
The exciting game winning play had fans and spectators going wild.
Lianna Norris, a senior biology major from Big Rapids, Mich. said, “In the last play of the game when that pass was thrown and that winning touchdown was scored, I felt like the tension of the game was lifted off all of our shoulders. I felt a rush and I was proud to be a Jacksonian.”
The Tigers struggled offensively during the first half of the game, scoring two field goals after failing to capitalize in the redzon.
FAMU’s kicker, Chase Varnadore, kicked a 22-yard field goal and Damien Fleming scored a 25-yard touchdown with the extra point to follow, putting the Rattlers up in the second half of the game 10-6.
During the 3rd quarter, RB Rakeem Simms blazed the field, quickly scoring a touchdown for the Tigers. Punter Darcy Williams kicked the extra point putting the Tigers ahead 13-10.
With the game heating up, Fleming pushed for a 44-yard gain putting Rattlers 3rd and 1 but the Rattlers fumbled on the next drive, giving the Tigers possession at 10:41 in the 4th quarter.
After an incomplete pass from Ivy to Singleton, the Tigers came back in the 4th quarter, 3rd and goal however Ivy’s pass was incomplete and the Tigers had to settle for another field goal putting them up 16-10. From there on out, the two teams went at it in an all-out blood battle.
With only 46.9 seconds left in the game, Fleming passed the ball to A.J. Lidell for a touchdown followed by a successful extra point putting the Rattlers up 17-16.
While most of the JSU fans had resigned themselves to accepting a loss for the season opener, Ivy had not. His 49-yard game-winning pass to McKenzie helped head coach Harold Jackson start his era at JSU with a win.
Linebacker Javancy Jones finished on defense with a tackle for loss and nine tackles. Wide receivers Dan Williams caught six passes for 53 yards, game MVP Mckenzie caught three passes for 68 yards and Tobias Singleton had five receptions for 51 yards. Sims, “Offensive player of the Game,” cleared 117 yards plus a touchdown. The backbone of the team, Ivy passed for 269 yards and a touchdown.
Tensions were high the entire game but the Tigers had a bone to pick with FAMU. It’s been 11 years since the Tigers faced FAMU in 2003, at the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis, Ind. where the Rattlers beat the Tigers 28-14.
Fans were also eager to see the new coaching style of JSU Alum Coach Jackson. Jackson played for the NFL for 15 years, first drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and later being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
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