There’s no Homecoming in Louisiana quite like Southern University’s from the parade to the tailgate, the excitement always fills the air. On Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Jaguar fans packed the stands for what they hoped would be a big win against Prairie View A&M (PVAM). While the energy was high in the crowd, it didn’t translate to the field, as Southern’s offense struggled to find rhythm throughout the night.
The Jaguars opened strong defensively, forcing a few early stops. Nonetheless, Prairie View’s running back Lamagea McDowell broke through with a 50-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter. The Panthers added to their momentum with a 13-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback, Cameron Peters to junior wide receiver Jyzaiah Rockwell, followed by a field goal that extended their lead heading into halftime.
After an energetic halftime performance by both bands, Southern finally got on the board when Nathan Zimmer kicked a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter. The defense fought hard to keep Prairie View in check, but another McDowell rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter sealed the Jaguars’ fate.
Statistically, Prairie View outperformed Southern across nearly every category. The Jaguars finished with 247 total yards (166 rushing, 81 passing), while Prairie View totaled 361 yards (137 rushing, 224 passing). Southern had 16 first downs to the Panthers’ 18 and controlled the ball for 32:05, compared to Prairie View’s 27:55. However, the Jaguars’ three turnovers two fumbles and one interception and seven penalties for 56 yards proved costly. Prairie View committed no turnovers and only four penalties for 40 yards.
The Jaguars’ bright spot came from running back Trey Holly, who ran for 99 yards on 21 carries. For Prairie View, quarterback Cameron Peters passed for 224 yards and a touchdown, while McDowell rushed for 56 yards and two scores.
After the game, emotions ran high during the post-game press conference. Head Coach Terrence Graves expressed his frustration, saying, “This is the same old thing I tell the team we’re just not executing the way we should. There were a lot of missed opportunities. It’s the small things that set us back from being successful.”
When asked about job security, Graves remained composed: “I’m always coaching for my job. I’ve been coaching for my job since last year. I’ll continue to do what I was hired to do coach these young men until I’m told otherwise.”
Quarterback Ashton Strother, who joined the team just eight days before the season started, accepted responsibility for the team’s offensive struggles. “We have to finish. We’ve got to be better in the red zone and limit turnovers, If there’s miscommunication, that’s on me. I have to be more in touch with the players on the field,” finished Strother.
Athletic Director Roman Banks also addressed the team’s performance, acknowledging the growing pressure: “Obviously, this isn’t the season we expected. We’re disappointed not just because we lost Homecoming, but because of how we’ve been playing. We’ll take Monday to evaluate everything and determine what gives us the best chance to win moving forward.”
After four quarters of play, Prairie View A&M defeated Southern 24–3, dropping the Jaguars to 1–6 overall and 0–3 in SWAC play. The Jaguars return to A.W. Mumford Stadium next Saturday, October 25, to face Florida A&M. With fans calling for changes, Southern will look to regroup, refocus, and restore faith in Jaguar Nation.
