SU answers the call

 
After a long week of distractions and drama with the dismissal of Stump Mitchell as head coach, the Jaguars got their first win of the season.
 Under the leadership of interim head coach Dawson Odums the Jags ended a three-year losing streak against rival Jackson State 28-21.
“We had a great week of practice considering the situations that we were facing and the adversity we were under,” Odums said, “I take my hat off the assistant coaches and the players for just coming together and understanding that we have to go out and play football.”
Southern got their motivational spark early through special teams thanks to an 86-yard kickoff return touchdown by defensive back Jaleel Richardson.
It didn’t take long for SU special teams unit to make another big play when fullback Lee Mitchell blocked JSU punter Michael Perkins kick to put the Jaguars in good field position inside Jackson state territory.
On the other side of the ball, “I thought we were ready, we had a great week of practice I thought that we were ready to go out there and perform for a beautiful crowd,” JSU head coach Rick Comegy said.
On the Jaguars first play of scrimmage after the turnover, they went for a touchdown when quarterback Dray Joseph connected on a 25-yard pass play to wide receiver Mike Berry who finished the game with five receptions for 117 yards and two scores.
Defensively the Jaguars were able to intercept both of Jackson State’s quarterbacks who saw the field.
Linebacker Anthony Balancier picked off quarterback Clayton Moore in the first quarter and D’Mekeus Cook , got his hands on the ball intercepting Jackson State backup quarterback Dedric McDonald in the second quarter.
“We just couldn’t generate anything early and couldn’t put any points on the board,” Comegy said.
Southern’s next score came in the second quarter when Joseph connected with wide receiver Thomas Jackson on a four-yard pass.
Nearly three minutes into the third quarter SU scored it’s fourth touchdown of the game when Joseph connected with Berry again on a 60-yard pass.
 At this point SU had a 28-0 lead going into the fourth quarter, and one would think that the game is over… not so fast.
“The defense kinda came alive, we put something on the board we shut them down we made a quick run for it we got up to 21-28 the clock ran out on us before we had a chance,” Comegy said.
Jackson state came out in the last quarter and scored 21 unanswered points, but the Jaguars were able to keep the tigers off the field and survive to get the win.
“We have a rule, you enjoy the win for 24 hours and it’s time to move on to the next one and that’s what we are going to do and to try and get our kids focus on Florida A&M,” Odums said.
The win puts the Jaguars in second place in the SWAC Western standing below Arkansas Pine-Bluff (3-1, 2-1 SWAC), the Jaguars travel to Atlanta to play against Florida A&M in the Atlanta Football Classic.