Southern loses on Homecoming to Alabama A&M, 33-28

Southern’s undefeated record didn’t last long on homecoming. The Jaguars (5-1, 3-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) dropped the ball on its undefeated streak, losing 33-28 at A.W. Mumford stadium Saturday night to Alabama A&M (5-1, 3-1).
It’s the second time in three years AAMU has upset Southern on homecoming. The last defeat came on homecoming 2005.
Southern had multiple shots at turning the tide and coming home with a win and a 6-0 win streak, but allowed it to slip away. For the first time all season, Southern allowed 21 first quarter points and trailed AAMU 21-6 going into the second quarter.
In a large way that was due to the play of AAMU senior quarterback Kelcy Luke. Luke went 20 of 33 for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions.
“They made some big plays on us period,” said Southern head coach Pete Richardson. “Luke did a great job of getting out to the flank with his feet so we had to do something to try to stop it.”
Southern held AAMU standout running back Ulysses Banks in check. Although Banks didn’t return a punt or kickoff, he had 19 carries for 80 yards and one touchdown. What hurt the Jaguars the most proved to be big plays given up in the passing game.
“It wasn’t so much of a grove that AAMU got into early, it was lack of execution on our part,” said Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves. “We were blank. It wasn’t nothing we hadn’t seen. They didn’t do anything fancy or anything we hadn’t prepared for. They just made plays.”
“We can’t afford to allow teams to jump out on big leads and expect to pull it out at the end,” he said. “You can only do that so many times.”
Plus for the second time this season redshirt sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee took a sack in the end zone resulting in a safety. Lee was also sacked for a safey in the game against Mississippi Valley State and PVU. The safety put AAMU ahead 33-28 and took the game from a three point margin to five points meaning Southern now needed a touchdown before the end of regulation.
Going into the fourth quarter AAMU led Southern 28-21.
The third quarter saw Southern’s defense lock down on AAMU not allowing the Bulldog offense a point.
“We pretty much stuck with the game plan,” Graves said. “The difference was we executed more. That’s the thing. The execution has to be there, the focus has to be there, but then again we can’t wait until we get behind in order to play our style of football.”
But following a blocked punt by sophomore defensive back Anthony Wells which was caught by defensive back Michael Williams with 5:31 left in the third quarter, momentum seemed to be shifting in Southern’s favor, but on the ensuing drive the Jaguars fumbled and turned the ball over.
“The focus is going to have to pick up more than what is was tonight,” said Southern free safety Jarmaul George. “We can’t give up big plays. That’s what hurt us tonight.”
Following an AAMU three and out, Lee led Southern on a seven play 39 yard drive which ended on a fourth and six play where he threw a strike to red shirt sophomore wide receiver Clevan White for a touchdown. The score pulled Southern within 21-28 of AAMU. The touchdown put the Jaguars within seven of AAMU for the first time since 11:18 in the first quarter when Luke hit Johnson for a 12 yard touchdown.
The second quarter showed minimal improvement on the part of Southern, but wasn’t much better than the first. 2:20 seconds into the quarter Luke hooked up with wide receiver Rashad Johnson on an 18 yard touchdown pass. The score put the Bulldogs up 28-6.
But on the following drive Southern orchestrated a quick strike drive of its own going 63 yards on 13 plays, only taking 3:36 off the clock. Southern scored on a one yard run by fullback Alvin Fossilman. The touchdown pulled Southern within 28-14 of AAMU.
Luke was 4-of-6 in the second with 65 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw his first incomplete until halfway through the second, and went 15-of-19 for 197 yards and two scores.
AAMU lit up the Jaguar defense in first quarter action scoring on all three first quarter drives. Luke led the way and Gerald Stockdale hooked up with Thomas Harris on a 55 yard flea-flicker resulting in a touchdown. AAMU used the same play in a previous game against Tennessee State University in which Stockdale connected with Harris for a 45 yard gain. The only difference is the play against TNSU didn’t go for a touchdown.
Plus, AAMU didn’t face a third down in the quarter. They got 43 yards from Ulysses Banks of eight carries and 187 passing yards from the combination of Stockdale and Luke. AAMU totaled 230 yards total offense.
AAMU led 21-6 going into the second quarter. Immediately following the first quarter Graves called the defense to the sideline and let them have it.
“I told them we’re better than that,” he said. “They didn’t do anything impressive or anything we weren’t prepared for. It’s not like we have to do anything magical. We just have to play and make plays.”
Luke led the AAMU offense in the first quarter going 10 of 10 for 132 yards and one touchdown. He was perfect with his only incompletion being whipped away because of a hold on the play.
“It’s a test to the character of our football team,” Richardson said. “They’re going hard for sixty minutes, so we just have to regroup and come back.”
“Unfortunately we came out on the short end of the stick but this is not the end of the world,” Graves said.
Southern hosts rival Jackson State at A.W. Mumford stadium Saturday, October 13. The game will be televised on a tape delayed basis by Cox Sports TV. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
“We have to go back to our basics and get ready for Jackson State,” Graves said. “Mainly we have to sharpen up on the little things and make sure we’re ready to go.”
Southern’s Downfall
With Southern forcing an AAMU punt, the Jaguars return man Ronald Wade caught the ball and fumbled while trying to change carrying hands. Wade returned for his first action in three weeks as he served a three game suspension. The ball set up AAMU on the Southern 37 yard line.
Wade fumbled on each of his two punt returns Saturday.
Shout-Out
Southern free safety and defensive captain Jarmaul George recognized true freshman linebacker Cory Ray for his play Saturday. In his first action of the season Ray came up with 7 tackles total and had 1.5 tackles for loss.
“Cory Ray came in and did an excellent job for us at the linebacker position,” George said. “That’s what we needed. We need younger players to step up and make plays when there name’s called. I take my hat off to him.”
SU-Alabama Connection
Linebacker Donald Steele and wide receiver Nicholas Benjamin call the state of Alabama home. Steele is from Selma and Benjamin is from East Brewton.
Lagniappe
Former Southern cornerback and NFL great Aeneas Williams attended the game along with his son. Also, Saturday’s homecoming hosted 24,600 fans and was an official sell out. The sell out is Southern’s first since homecoming 2004.
Also, starting cornerback Joe Manning sat out because of personal reasons. So did outside linebacker Jonathan Malveaux and running back Kendrick Smith. Malveaux was sidelined for the second consecutive game with a high ankle sprain and Smith missed the game with an Achilles injury.