Nikolas Davis & Morgan Beard
MC Contributor/Staff
Slow.
A one-word description for Jackson State University Tigers at the start of the game against long time rival, Mississippi Valley State University.
MVSU put up the first points of the game on a 13-play drive, which was temporarily halted by the Tiger defense for an attempt of a field goal. However, a leaping penalty was called which kept the drive alive and gave the Delta Devils the opportunity to score a 17-yard pass with 5:36 minutes left in the 1st quarter.
On the next drive, QB Brent Lyles’, a redshirt freshman from Indianapolis, Ind., pass would be tipped and intercepted by Valley State to put them in great field position to score but the Tigers defense would hold firm and force them into a three and out losing 7 yards on the drive.
This is when the Tigers would put their first points on the board with a 28-yard FG by Christian Jacquemin from Miami, Fla. This was Jacquemin’s sixth field goal made this season.
The Tiger defense would continue to be a dominating force on the following drive when junior safety Brandon Maiden contested a pass with a big hit which in turn popped the ball in the air for senior linebacker Stacy Noble to catch.
The offense was set up with only 24 yards to reach pay dirt, after the big play but came up empty following three incomplete passes and a missed field goal on a 4 play drive.
The defense then forced another three and out and gave the offense the momentum again as they prepared to head down the field. Lyles would make a spectacular play on third down, evading defenders left and right on a 17 yard scramble just for the Tigers to cough up the ball on a fumble which put a weary defense back on the field.
This drive by MVSU would end in a touchdown after successful passing attempts and a pass interference penalty on second and short helped them to 7 points.
Down 14 to 3, with the defense back on the field after a second fumble by the offense, the defense was faced with what possibly was the turning point of the game.
Valley State started the drive on the Tiger 35 yard line, to finish going in the opposite direction on the 40 after another exemplary effort by the Tiger defense, and with just under 6 minutes left in the second quarter, the offense came on the field with a new attitude.
Lyles, along with freshman running back Jordan Johnson, would press down the field on a 7-play 74-yard drive, mostly on the ground with explosive gains by the freshman RB before being capped of with a 1-yard run by senior RB Joshua Bates.
The Delta Devils would give the ball right back on their first offensive play after the touchdown, which a fumble recovered by senior defensive end Javancy Jones.
The offensive would then capitalize on the opportunity with an awe-inspiring one handed catch by senior wide receiver Daniel Williams just five plays later.
After a missed point after attempt, the score stood at 16-14 at the half, which is where it would stand.
The second half was an eerie resemblance of the first 24 minutes of the first half; the offense struggling, and the defense playing lights out.
The closest anyone got to a score is when MVSU attempted a 30-yard field goal near the beginning of the fourth quarter that hit the right upright, and fortunately for JSU did not go through.
The Tigers have a bye week this upcoming Saturday before a good Southern Jaguars team rolls into town for a showdown on Oct. 15th in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
All photos by William H. Kelly III.
