JSU football looks to improve during 2015-2016 season

Jeremy Anderson
Staff Writer

In coach Harold Jackson’s first season as head coach, the Tigers of Jackson State finished 2014 with an overall record of 5-7 and 3-6 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

The Tigers began the season with high hopes of winning a SWAC title, but stunning losses early in the season proved too deep of a hole for the Tigers to get out of.

The Tigers started off the season strong with a memorable Hail Mary pass from LaMontiez Ivy to DeSean Mckenzie that won the first game of the season against Florida A&M University. The Tigers then defeated Virginia Lynchburg 59-0, starting the 2014 season with two consecutive wins.

The season turned south after the two early wins. In the Southern Heritage Classic, Tennessee State defeated Jackson State in convincing fashion, 35-7. Jackson State’s weaknesses were exposed as Tennessee State dominated for much of the game.

The Tigers began conference play against Grambling State in Jackson, Miss. In its first win of the season, Grambling State narrowly defeated JSU 40-35.

After an overtime win against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, the Tigers were over a .500 winning percentage for the last time in the season. JSU would then drop five consecutive games, four of which were at home.

Following a loss to Prairie View A&M, JSU lost its Homecoming game to in-state rival Mississippi Valley State University for the first time in 19 years. The Delta Devils’ head coach was Rick Comegy, last year’s head coach at Jackson State.

After the MVSU loss, JSU lost to rival Southern, Alabama A&M, and Alabama State in consecutive weeks.

In the second to last game week of the season, JSU managed to defeat Texas Southern University in a 15-10 dogfight of a game in Houston, Texas. It was JSU’s first win in over a month and a half.

Riding the momentum from the previous win, Jackson State defeated the Alcorn State University Braves in the annual Soul Bowl. Alcorn State had already clinched the SWAC East Championship two weeks earlier and was widely considered the best team in the conference.

Yet, JSU proved that it can play with any team by defeating the Braves in dramatic fashion 34-31. Ivy and McKenzie connected again on a game-winning touchdown as they did in the first game of the season.

Although the season did not turn out as expected, Jackson State proved that it is capable of special things. Key playmakers will return for JSU next year: Ivy, who threw for over 3,000 yards; Dan Williams, who caught for over 1,000 yards; and JaVancy Jones, who recorded 108 tackles. With the core of the offensive and defensive production returning next year, expect an exciting 2015 football season for the Jackson State Tigers.