Wakil Atig
Sports Editor
The Tigers of Jackson State University has had a unique season thus far. As they battled the Jaguars of Southern University, their personality as a team and program was defined.
The first quarter was an all out battle as both teams fought hard for control of the game. JSU’s offense was in full swing as they wasted no time getting in the red zone. Although the Tigers were unsuccessful in the red zone, they executed on all field goal attempts for the game.
Southern’s run game was their key to success throughout the game as they finished with a total of 264 rushing yards. The Jaguars offensive line was dominant for most of the game, causing the defense an extreme amount of difficulty as they simply couldn’t stop them from charging through gaps
Although the Tigers led in both rushing and passing yards, their overall strength was their ability to pass throughout the first half. With 2:55 to go in the first quarter, quarterback Jalon Jones connected with receiver, DD Bowie on a two yard touchdown.
Jones went for 16-32 in passing while throwing four touchdowns and rushed for a total of 105 yards.
Things were clicking for the Tigers in the second quarter as their offense was in full sync. To conclude the second quarter, JSU scored two touchdowns in less than one minutes playing time to take the lead heading into half time. To conclude the first half JSU led SU 24-17.
In the second half both teams struggled overall on both sides of the ball. SU’s defense lacked the same intensity it had in the first half and JSU just couldn’t stand firm on the offensive line to protect their quarterback. This game came down to who executed the most in crucial moments.
With a little over a minute remaining in the third quarter SU sealed the game with an 87 yard kickoff return that snatched the life out of the Tigers of Jackson State. JSU would never regain full momentum in the fourth quarter to make a comeback after leading for the majority of the game. Southern University went on to defeat Jackson State, 40-34.
Junior running back Keshawn Harper finished with a game high 208 rushing yards, averaging nine yards per carry. DD Bowie had his way with the secondary as he snatched six catches for 89 yards and one touchdown.
Khalil Arrington finished with a game high nine tackles, Ryan Theyard finished with eight tackles, Brian Mitchell notched one sack and Rashad Jenkins added one interception.
Noelle Richardson, a senior biology pre-physical therapy major from Charlotte, N.C., believes the football team has improved since the start of the season, but could have done much better.
Richardson stated, “Our team is extremely talented and well-coached, but for some reason we lose to teams that we are better than. Going forward the team needs to learn how to not play down to the level of competition and dominate at all times.”
Briana Clay, a sophomore biology pre-medicine major from Chicago, Ill., believes that the football team needs to work on maintaining their momentum after halftime.
Clay stated, “The team was doing well in the first half, especially at the end of the second quarter when they scored two touchdowns. But in the second half for some reason they under performed and lost to a lesser talented team in Southern University.”
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