Work in Progress: Despite Bayou Classic loss, Jags see bright future ahead

The 44th Annual Bayou Classic was the latest opportunity for Southern University football to block out the negative criticism and focus on winning the right to play for a SWAC Championship.
In front of a crowd of over 66,000 people, the Jaguars and the Tigers of Grambling State played a close football game this past Saturday, November 25, 2017 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
Senior quarterback, Austin Howard and the Southern offense received the ball to start the game, but an interception on the first play quickly gave the ball back to the Tigers.
Following the takeaway, Grambling scored the first points of the game for an early 7-0 advantage.
This game proved to be more of a defensive showcase compared to last year’s offensive shootout. Both teams were prepared to perform all four quarters. Big plays were few and far in between for most of the game, and points were hard to come by.
Methodical drives were key for Southern when they had the ball. The Jaguars’ first opportunity to score was voided after freshman kicker, Caesar Barajas, missed a field goal.
“When you have a freshman kicker, you [are going to] have some of those mistakes,” said Head Coach Dawson Odums during the postgame interview.
Grambling responded by throwing a touchdown pass on their next possession, expanding the lead to 14.
Senior tailback, Herbert Edwards, is one of the best backs in the SWAC, but through the first half, he was limited to just five rushing yards on four carries. With less than 10 minutes to go before halftime, sophomore running back, Devon Benn, was able to pick up the slack and have an impact on the run game.
Benn would be rewarded in his hometown by running into the end zone for Southern’s first touchdown of the day, making the score 14-7 in favor of the Tigers.
Grambling would add a field goal before halftime to increase their lead to 17-7.
The third quarter was where Southern began to hike the comeback trail. Grambling could not sustain a drive on offense. However, the Jags had issues of their own.
Another field goal opportunity from Barajas was blocked, and other drives were cut short due to Howard being sacked on third down.
“When you got a chance to create separation in a football game, you got to take advantage of those moments,” said Odums following the game.
Howard was able to find freshman receiver, Kendall Catalon, for a touchdown with three minutes left in the quarter, reducing the lead to 17-14.
To start the fourth quarter, Grambling added another field goal to extend the lead to 20-14.
The next possession, the Jags roared down the field to take the lead for the first time, thanks to senior tight end, Dillon Beard, catching Howard’s second touchdown pass with roughly five minutes left in the game. The rush of adrenaline could be felt across the dome.
The Jags’ special teams could not hold up during the ensuing kickoff, allowing Grambling to have great field position with a chance to retake the lead, which they did, adding a rushing touchdown to give the Tigers a 27-21 advantage.
Howard would turn the ball over twice on Southern’s last two drives to end the game. Grambling would add another field goal, which caused the 30-21 final score.
Despite the close loss, the Jaguars had a lot to be proud of.
“To come into a game like this,” said standout senior defensive back, Danny Johnson, during the postgame press conference, “where no one picked us to win, and for us to fight like that, that’s why the emotions were so high.”
After the game, Howard explained how he never fully recovered from a Grade 2 PCL Sprain suffered in his knee earlier this season. “This whole season I was never 100 percent. My heart was on 100 though, so the knee wasn’t a factor.”
The 2017 Southern Jaguars finished the season with a respectable record of 7-4. Expectations will be high heading into the offseason, seeing that most of this year’s team will be returning. As long as the Jaguars follow Coach Odums’ advice and ‘chop wood and carry water’, the Jags will be alright.

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Devin Hadrick

Senior Defensive Lineman Aaron Tiller fights off a Grambling State lineman in Saturday's 44th annual Bayou Classic. (Devin Hadrick/DIGEST)