Thousands of Southern University Jaguar fans can keep theirreservations for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game afterthe Alabama State Hornets defeated the Golden Lions of Arkansas Pine Bluff,21-14 in Montgomery, Ala., Saturday afternoon.
The loss by UAPB (6-3, 5-2 SWAC), sends the Jaguars (8-3,6-1 SWAC), as the Western Division winner to the SWAC Championship game againstthe east winning Hornets on Saturday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m., at Birmingham (Ala.)Legion Field.
A victory by the Golden Lions would have given them theWestern Division title and set up a rematch with Alabama State (9-2, 6-1 SWAC)but their hopes were ended in the final seconds when Hornets quarterbackTavaris Jackson scrambled for the game winning touchdown.
“Nauseating” was the word used by Carl Whimper, the UAPBcolor radio commentator state when describing how the Golden Lions felt afterlosing such a heart breaking game.
“After halftime, we went from 30-minutes to being in thechampionship game to nauseating,” he said on the UAPB Internet and radiobroadcast of the game.
Southern fans, hoping for a chance to defend its conferencetitle from last year, had feelingson the opposite side of the spectrum than UAPB.
Since it inception in 1999, no eastern division team has wonthe SWAC Championship game. Southern and Grambling State are the only winnersof the game. Southern defeated Jackson State in 1999, 31-30. Grambling then wonthree consecutive championship games with a 14-6 win over Alabama A&M in2000, a 38-31 win over Alabama State in 2001 and a 31-19 win over A&M in2002. Southern defeated Alabama State 20-9 last year.
Southern defeated Alabama State earlier this season 42-41 inMontgomery, Ala.. Wide out Emile Bryant scored on a 31-yard pass from ThomasRicks, with 2-seconds to play to give Southern the comeback win, after trailing31-14 early in the third quarter. This game saw both teams rack up 1,064 yardsin total offense (589 Southern – 475 Alabama State).
TICKETS:
Tickets to the SWAC Championship game are $10 and $20 forreserved seating and $15 and $25 on game day. Tickets can be purchased atTicketmaster.com or by calling1-800-277-1700.
OF NOTE:
Alabama State did not play regular starting quarterbackTavaris Jackson until the end of the second quarter, after falling behind toUAPB 14-0. The SWAC’s leadingrusher, Alabama State’s Keldrick Williams did not play. Williams is nursing alingering ankle injury. The SWAC ‘s Defensive Player of the Year in AlabamaState’s Ronald “Rock” Dillon was injured in the UAPB game. His status for theSWAC Championship game is uncertain at this time.
ALL-SWAC MATCH UP:
The Southern vs. Alabama State match up will feature 16 playerswho made the All-SWAC first or second team. SU has four first-team members andthree second teamers. Alabama State has three first teamers and six second teammembers. The will also feature both of the SWAC’s Offensive and DefensivePlayers of the Year. Southern quarterback Thomas Ricks earns the offensivehonor while ASU linebacker Ronald Dillon won the defensive honor as voted bythe SWAC head coaches and sports information directors.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“We want Southern,” ASU defensive lineman JimmyParham said. “We don’t want to beat anybody else for the crown. Southernhas beat us three times in the past two years. That’s who we want next week. Iwant to personally take that ring off their finger.”
– “Hornetswon’t take chances Saturday” by Josh Moon –The Montgomery Advertiser (12-3-04).
