Jaguars topple Tigers in Jackson

JACKSON, Miss.— Physical play on both lines had defined Jack-son State’s two previous victories over Southern. But as things change with time, it was the Jaguars that dominated the Tigers up front winning 35-28 Saturday in Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“It’s big for this football team,” SU coach Pete Richardson said of the win. “It’s a tremendous rivalry and any time you can win against Jackson, you’ve done a good job against a fine football team.”
Unlike SU’s previous two losses, the Jaguars’ ability to control the line of scrimmage and run the football allowed SU to get on the scoreboard first on a 28-yard Josh Duran field goal with 3:16 remaining in the first quarter. In SU’s previous two losses, JSU had scored first.
SU’s physical nature also carried over to the defensive side as defensive linemen Vincent Lands and Frank Harry each had three tackles for loss. Lands also got his first sack of the season and the two each forced a fumble.
“Whenever we play them there’s always a lot at stake,” Richardson said. “We had to have this game.”
SU (3-2, 2-0 SWAC) hadn’t beat JSU (1-4, 0-1) since 2005 when the Jaguars won 20-14.
Also, SU had only totaled 23 yards rushing in last year’s match-up with JSU. This time SU rushed for 149 yards and outgained the Tigers on the ground as Lee led the way with 58 yards on 18. Running backs Kendrick Smith and Silas Gibbs each had touchdowns.
“We had to get our running game established,” Lee said. “Once the running game started clicking the safeties had to come down and respect it, so that’s when we went over the top.”
Bouncing back from a concussion suffered late in the fourth quarter on a helmet-to-helmet shot by Alcorn’s Idly Etienne, Lee proved efficient once again completing 18-of-29 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
A big part of Lee’s offensive numbers came courtesy of Juamorris Stewart, who came up with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Stewart was played by preseason All-SWAC second teamer Domonique Johnson, a transfer from Missouri all game. Plus, despite the two touchdowns, Stewart also beat Johnson on two first downs conversions and receptions of 44 and 36 yards which led to SU field goals. Also, seven of Stewart’s eight receptions went for first downs.
“We’re going to take what we can get,” Richardson said. “Every time we tried to get him singled he went up and made a great catch.”
“It’s great,” Lee said of the chemistry with Stewart. “We get at it at practice every day and try to keep the good things that we’re doing going.”
The game may have been Stewart’s coming out party as the rangy receiver grabbed eight passes for a career high 179 yards and two touchdowns. The two touchdown performance was Stewart’s third of the season.
“They’ve got some chemistry going together,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “They’ve been working hard and it’s paying off.”
Lee and former SU standout Gerard Landry had been knocked out of last year’s game late in the fourth quarter in SU’s 32-26 loss to JSU in Mumford Stadium.
“Whenever we play them it’s a huge rivalry,” Richardson said. “You can discard the records because none of that matters.
“The fans played a big part here tonight,” Richardson said. “Because of that we really don’t play a lot of road games. That helps a great deal.”
Notes
JSU had taken the previous two contests winning 31-28 in double overtime in 2006 and 32-26 last season. In JSU’s double overtime thriller, then freshman Eric Perri was carried off the field by teammates hoisting a wrestling championship belt following his game winning field goal. SU won the toss and deferred until the second half.
Game Ball
The game ball goes to defensive linemen Frank Harry and Vincent Lands. Harry and Lands each had three tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
Mississippi Sweep
SU completed a sweep of its scheduled Mississippi schools this season beating Mississippi Valley State 49-7, Alcorn State 15-12 last week and Jackson State 35-28. In SU’s first two wins, the Jaguars averaged 435 yards of total offense. SU racked up 415 yards total offense against JSU.
This is the first time SU has defeated all three Mississippi schools in the same season since 2004 when the Jaguars beat MVSU 17-14, JSU 45-7 and ASU 23-20 on its way to its second straight SWAC Championship appearance.
“October is what it is,” Richardson said. “It’s the make and break of your football season. A lot of things are going to be decided because a lot of time you’re talking about conference play, and the teams that’s fortunate enough to take care of their business are the one’s with a good shot toward the end.”
Defensively SU only 47 points in its three match ups.
“This was a big week for our conference and as a result may set the tempo for the rest year as far as who’s going to get to the championship game,” Richardson said. “They’re the defending SWAC champion. We had to beat them.”
“In our conference it’s knock out the quarterback,” Richardson said. “Most teams go after the quarterback because they feel that’s the most important part of the offense.”