Benn, Defense seal Jags’ victory over Prairie View

After a blowout win against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Southern went into Saturday’s game against the Panthers from Prairie View A&M with hopes of controlling their own destiny in the SWAC West.
The Jaguars came out to play with a fast pace, as they opened the game with a quick scoring drive, echoing their start against Arkansas Pine-Bluff last week.
Leading rusher Devon Benn kept up his strong 2019 campaign with a couple of good runs to start the game. Additionally, QB LaDarius Skelton made use of his scrambling ability and led the Jaguars into the red zone. On the very next play, a jet sweep to Jamar Washington put the Jaguars up to start the game.
Prairie View’s offense came on the field with a big play from the run game to start their first drive. Showing some risky play calling early, Prairie View converted on a 4th &9 before the defense made its presence felt early as well with a sack from Hunter Clay on third down to force the Panthers to kick a field goal. 
Skelton proceeded to throw an interception on the Jaguars next drive to give possession to the ball back to Prairie View. However, the “Dog Day D” that the Jags have so infamously become known for showed up again in the red zone, as sophomore defensive back Tamaurice Smith intercepted the ball in the endzone, stopping the threat of a Panther touchdown. 
“You gotta make plays,” said head coach Dawson Odums following the game. “We were fortunate to make enough plays,”
A 38-yard bomb from Skelton to TJ Bedford landed the Jaguars down the field into the red zone. Skelton proceeded to throw a dart to Hunter Register for a 3-yard touchdown, extending the Jaguar lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter.
On the next possession for the Panthers, the Panther’s  offense elected to go for it on 4th&12. The Panthers couldn’t convert, and with a Jordan Lewis sack, Mumford Stadium erupted into cheers at the defensive stand. 
The Panthers opened the second half missing a field goal. The Jags hoped to build on that momentum, but a pick 6 by Prairie View created a tie game for the first time since early in the first quarter. 
A questionable decision by the Jaguar special teams to take the ball out of the end zone on a punt return caused them to start their next drive deep in Panther  territory. A series of productive runs from the tail backs, as well as QB Skelton who opted to start using his legs as the Jaguars drove down the field, sparked a 14 play drive that spanned 64 yards . A dropped pass from Christopher Chaney ended the drive. SU ultimately had to settle for a 44 yard field goal to go up by 3 late in the third quarter. 
A big momentum shift for the Jaguars came on a huge play from defensive back Kordell Caldwell who blocked a punt going into the fourth quarter. 
To start the 4th quarter, Skelton took it to the end zone on a quarterback keep for a 5 yard touchdown, giving the team their biggest lead of the game of 24-14. After another Panther touchdown cut the Jaguar lead to 3 points, the Jaguar offense answered as Benn carried a Panther defender into the end zone to give the Jaguars another ten point lead in the middle of the fourth quarter. 
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Jaguar lead again falling to three, the Jags begin milking the clock down as they go on a slowly paced drive that took up a total of five minutes and forty one seconds drive,  settling for a 29 yard field goal to bring their lead to six points. 
On 4th&8 with under one minute left, the Jaguar defense  answered the call and ended the ball game with a defensive stand to end the ballgame 34-28. 
Odums was very pleased with the effort of all his special teams units. Kicker Caesar Barajas was recognized as SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week.
With this huge win against Prairie View, the Jaguars are now in control of their own destiny in the SWAC West as they remain undefeated in conference play. The next game is October 19,2019 in Dallas, Texas against Texas Southern in the State Fair Classic Showdown.