Morgan Beard
Staff Writer
The Jackson State University Tigers upset Texas Southern on a goal line stand that secured a 21-13-road victory at BBVA Compass Stadium. With 10,121 fans in attendance, the victory was the Tigers’ sixth in a row in the series and allowed them to match their season total from last year with four regular season games left.
JSU is now (3-4) overall and (3-2) in Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) play. This win moved JSU into a tie with Alcorn State, which had a bye week, for the lead in the SWAC’s Eastern division. The Tigers are in this position because of senior strong safety Preston Hughes from Daphne, Ala., who came up with his second interception of the game.
Junior quarterback Jarin Morikawa from Mililani, Hawaii started the game with 18 of 25 passes for 165 yards. In the first quarter Morikawa threw an interception to set up Texas Southern with a four yard Hurts to Smalls touchdown pass, giving TSU the first score in the game 7-0 with 9:20 seconds on the clock. Freshman quarterback Juwan Adams from Summit, Miss., also saw action at quarterback with 3 for 3 passes for 12 yards and 3 rushers for 13 yards with 4.3 yards per average.
Jackson State responded fast with a 1 yard touchdown run by junior running back Robert Johnson from Terry, Miss., with 1:46 left in the first quarter. Also rushing the ball was senior running back Joshua Bates from Jackson, Miss,. who rushed 8 times for 49 yards and freshman running back Jordan Johnson from Terry, Miss,. who led the team in rushing yards with 4 carries for 78 yards. The rushing attack combined for 161 yards on the ground.
This was the first time a JSU running back has scored two rushing touchdowns in a single game this year.
Senior wide receiver Jairus Moll from Laplace, La., lead the team in receiving yards with 5 catches for 53 yards on 10.6 yards per catch average. TxSU answered back with a 49 yard field goal (10-7) in the 2nd quarter with 5:32 left on the clock.
The Tigers defense contained TxSU to 96 rushing yards on the ground and 105 passing yards with 201 yards combined. In the third quarter, Robert Johnson, a 2 yard rushing touchdown to give the JSU Tigers a 14-10 lead with 2:58 left on the clock.
Senior LB/DE Javancy Jones from Macon, Miss., posted 8 total tackles, with 3 coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also took down the quarterback twice in the contest.
Jones was also honored as SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. In the 4th quarter,TxSU kicker Eric Medina connected on a 38 yard field goal to put the score at 14-13 with 13: 32 left on the clock.
On the next drive, Jackson State moved the ball down the field. The next play Jordan Johnson scored on a 55 yard touchdown to increases the lead 21-13 with 11:24 on the clock.
From there both teams really couldn’t find another way to scored with teams both defensives causing problems. At the last minutes of the fourth quarter there were many penalties that gave TxSU the opportunity to score at the goal line. On each play TxSU try to pass the ball in the end zone and was not successful on each try.
On 4th down with 18 seconds left on the clock senior saftey Preston Hughes picked off the pass to give the Tigers their third win of the season.
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