Jeremy Anderson
Associate Editor
Jackson State University will look to pick up its first win against long-time rival Southern University this week to open up Southwestern Conference play.
The bitter rivalry promises to include a rowdy atmosphere as two of the biggest fan bases in the Football Championship Subdivision pack into one stadium this Saturday.
Last year, JSU fell to Southern 42-28 at the Mississippi Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.
Southern enters this week with an overall record of 1-1, with the one loss coming from Louisiana Tech of the Football Bowl Subdivision. After a 62-15 loss in week one, the Jaguars defeated Mississippi Valley State 50-13.
Although Southern blew out the Delta Devils in Itta Bena, Miss., last Thursday on ESPNU, the offensive game stats were similar.
Southern dominated the special teams game with a punt return and a kickoff return for touchdowns. SU also made interceptions with long returns that aided the JConversely, in front of over 48,000 fans, Jackson State lost 35-25 in a hard fought battle against Tennessee State University Tigers in the annual Southern Heritage Classic.
JSU hung with TSU for the majority of the game, but mistakes in the special teams department lead JSU to find themselves in tough predicaments throughout the game.
Jackson State’s defense held up well against Tennessee State for most of the game, yet the occasional big plays from TSU surged them ahead of JSU.
Quarterback La Montiez Ivy played an efficient game with over 300 pass yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Wide receiver Dan Williams finished the game with over 100 yards for the second game in a row.
JSU also found some success in the run game with Jarius Moore and Robert Johnson combining to rush for the bulk of 114 total rushing yards.
In order to begin conference play on a good note and beat Southern, JSU must continue the balanced offensive attack.
JSU’s offensive line must provide protection for Ivy and create holes for Moore and Johnson, who had a 100-yard rushing game last year, to run through.
Also, Williams, who had a 100-yard receiving game last year, must continue his streak of effective games to provide big plays for JSU.
Defensively, JSU must limit big plays from Southern, something that did not happen last year. In the 2014 matchup, Southern had three 100-yard receivers, and a 100-yard rusher.
JSU cannot afford for that to happen again. Even though JSU produced over 500 yards of total offense, SU proved to be too explosive for JSU to contain.
In a 14 point loss last year, 14 of the Jaguars’ points resulted from special teams touchdowns. Willie Quinn returned a punt for a touchdown in addition to a kickoff returned for a touchdown from Southern.
In game that will determine the momentum throughout the rest of SWAC play, JSU has to find a way to win big this week.
The game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19th, at A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
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