Tigers face Braves in biggest rivalry game of the year

Jeremy Anderson
Staff Writer

Jackson State will play its last football game of the season Saturday in the biggest rivalry game of the year against the Braves of Alcorn State University.

Formerly known as the Capital City Classic or Soul Bowl, the match-up between the two teams is the most historic and storied rivalries among all HBCUs in the state.

Every year, the two premier HBCUs compete on the Saturday before Thanksgiving in a Mississippi tradition that has been annual since the 1940s.

The past 12 meetings between the two schools have resulted in six wins for each team.

This year will be the first time the majority of the new JSU coaching staff will be included in the heated rivalry, including first year head coach Harold Jackson. After his years playing against Alcorn State as a wide receiver at JSU, Jackson will have to adapt to a new role in coaching against ASU.

Alcorn State head coach Jay Hopson is also fairly new to the rivalry. Hopson accepted the head coach position in 2012. Since he has been head coach, he has a record of 1-1 against Jackson State.

In 2012, Hopson became the first white head coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) and since then has turned a mediocre Alcorn State football team into a SWAC powerhouse.

In the 10 previous seasons before Hopson’s arrival, Alcorn State had a record of 46-72. Since his arrival as head coach, the Braves are 22-12, and now SWAC Eastern Division champions.

This season, Alcorn has been dominant in the SWAC. Its only slip up was a seven point loss to Grambling State earlier in the season, and a six point loss to Southern Miss. No other team has come close to beating Alcorn State. Their average margin of victory in conference play is 33 points.

As for JSU, the rough season will come to an end Saturday as Alcorn State has already clinched the spot for the SWAC East team in the conference championship game. A bright spot appeared last week as the Tigers pulled off its first win since September.

Jackson State (4-7, 2-6) pulled together and defeated Texas Southern in 15-10 dogfight of a game. The defense played tough all game and the offense made just enough plays to escape Houston with a win.

In order to defeat the dominant Alcorn State Braves, the Tigers must build momentum from last week and play its best game yet. The Tigers cannot afford to go into Lorman without a near perfect game plan.

Be sure to support the Tigers in their last home game of the season at Jack Spinks-Casem Stadium in Lorman, Miss.