Jags get knocked out at 2005 Bayou Classic

Game Stats
The Jaguars fought hard to the end, but couldn’t pull off a win in the 32nd annual State Farm Bayou Classic against Grambling State and lost 50-35. The Jaguars were trying to avoid getting head coach Pete Richardson his first losing season at Southern. Grambling State had already clinched the Southwestern Athletic Conference Western Division championship.
“We are a little shorthanded in positions and injuries came in there all year long,” Richardson said. “We ran out of personnel here, but I was proud of their effort, a learning process, experience beat us in certain spots.”
The Jaguars, having a number of opportunities, still didn’t get the opportunity to pull off a win. Senior wide receiver and Bayou Classic most valuable player for Southern, James Vernon, contributed with two touchdown, including an 85-yard punt return in the third quarter.
“It’s always sad (about the Bayou Classic loss), but I had fun my whole four years,” said Vernon. “Good luck to those guys next time for next year.”
Vernon finished 113 receiving yards, scoring the Jaguars first points of the game on 67-yard screen pass and added 113 yards on two punt returns. Quarterback J.C. Lewis completed 28 of 52 pass attempts for 301 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Sophomore running back Larry Nicholls had nine rushing yards. Landry contributed with 123 yards. Breck Ackley had five extra points moving him into first place as Southern’s all-time leading scorer, but had one field goal try blocked early in the first quarter.
“I’m glad to be home, but I’m a little down because of the lost,” said Nicholls, a Houston native. “I think we came out there and played our hearts out. We just came up a little short.”
Grambling’s senior quarterback Bruce Eugene was selected as Grambling’s Bayou Classic Most Valuable Player with 22 of 42 completed passes, one interception and six touchdowns for 418 yards. He had 63 rushing yards and one touchdown.
“This is my first win in the Bayou Classic. I had that monkey on back, now I guess the monkey off my back, and it feels great.”