BIRMINGHAM, Ala–The Southern Jaguars fell 40-35 to Alabama State in theSouthwestern Athletic Conference championship game, Saturday afternoon atBirmingham’s Legion Field, crowing the Hornets as the 2004 SWAC champions.
With less than three minutesleft in regulation, in an attempt to score the winning touchdown the Jaguarssenior quarterback, Thomas Ricks threw two interceptions, both inside AlabamaState’s 30-yard line, that sealed the victoryfor Hornets.
“I thought he just missed aread,” said Southern head coach Pete Richardson about the last interception.”That happens. I thought that we could have done a couple things a littledifferent to help him out a bit but it was a situation that we were trying toscore.”
Ricks made unbelievable finalsecond game winning plays against SWAC foes early in the season to help theJaguars make a trip to the championship game. But, the SWAC Offensive Playerof the Year couldn’t pull it off as he had didso many times earlier in the season.
“It was something thathappened,” Ricks said about the interception just a few minutes after the game. “I thought the defender was holding him and it’sjust something that just happened.”
Alabama State (10-2) was a teamhungry for a SWAC championship victory. The Hornets came into the game wantingto play the “best team,” the defending 2003 SWAC champion Jaguars (8-4). TheHornets aided Southern by kicking Arkansas-Pine Bluff 21-14, out of the westerndivision race, that allowed the Jaguars to play in the championship game.
With the aid of inexperiencedand young wide receivers Ricks completed 27-of-42 passes for 380 yards andthree touchdowns. He rushed 22 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns. Thefirst year starter set the SWAC Championship Game record for individual totaloffensive yards with 500 total yards but also set the record for mostinterceptions with four.
It was a dogfight. But, in theend the Jaguars totaled seven turnovers and the Hornets overcame a two-touchdowndeficit to win.
Southern entered the red zone(20-yardline) four times but scored only twice, to open the game with a 1-yardrun and a 2-yard run, both by Ricks, give the Jaguars a 14-0 lead.
Alabama State cut the lead when Robert Randolph scored ona 2 yard run to 14-7 at the half.
The second half saw an offensive explosion started whenRicks hit Antonio Overstreet on a 32-yard pass with 10:14 in the third quarterto give Southern a 21-7 lead. Keldrick Williams, the SWAC’s leading rusherscored on a 24-yard run for the Hornets to cut it to 21-14. Ricks then hitOverstreet again on a 26-yard pass with 5:35 in the third to give Southern a28-14 advantage.
The Hornets then drove 84-yards on seven plays capped byquarterback Tavaris Jackson’s 1-yard run to end the third quarter with theHornets trailing 28-21.
After a Steel Adams fumble, Alabama State ended the31-yard drive with a Williams 1-yard run touchdown run to tie the game at 28-28with 14:22 to play.
“That’s been a thorn in our side protecting the ball the pastcouple of games,” Ricks said. It really hit us today, it’s really a bad time to hit us and Alabama State played wellthey deserve it.”
The Jaguars answered back with Ricks hitting Overstreet ona 30-yard pass ending a seven play 72 yard drive to give Southern a 35-28 leadwith 10:58 to play. Alabama State scored quickly after a 51-yard pass fromJackson to Reginald Glover and then scoring on Williams’s 2-yard run with 9:36to play. Anthony Johnson missed the PAT keeping the Hornets down by one, 35-34.
After recovering an on-side kick, the Hornets thenWilliams scored on a 3-yard run that ended a six play drive. After a failed two-pointattempt the Hornets held a 40-35 lead with 6:23 to play.
Southern then moved the ball down to the Alabama State32-yard line before the Hornets Rock Dillon, the SWAC Defensive Player of theYear intercepted a Ricks pass on the 19-yard line. The SU defense held andforced Alabama to punt.
Starting at its own 43-yard line, Ricks hit KeneenHenderson on passes of 18 and 10-yards putting the Jaguars at the Alabama State29-yard line with about 1:30 to play. Then Chris Dupuy intercepted Ricks passat the 19-yard line.
Alabama State quarterback Jacksonclaimed the SWAC Game Offensive Most Valuable Player award. Jackson completed 17-of-34passes for 275 yards, one touchdown and rushed for a team high 103 yards.
The Hornets running back Williamsset the SWAC record for the most touchdowns scored with four. He gained 64yards on 19 carries.
“We played a good football teamfour different times in the two years since I’vebeen here and as you saw its always going down to the wire,” said Alabama Statehead coach Charlie Coe. “The guys knew what we had to do out there.”
Overstreet finished the game with six receptions for 126yards and three touchdowns while Henderson added 10 catches for 137 yards.Junior All-SWAC wide out James Vernon left the game in the first quarter after re-injuringhis knee and did not return to the game.
