Chopped and Screwed: Jaguars dismantle Tigers in Houston

“We started 1-3. Everybody wrote us off, but that’s okay. Good thing we don’t have to cash they checks. We know ours don’t bounce.”
Coach Dawson Odums made it clear to all who doubted his football team.
As the Southern University (SU) Jaguars made the trip to Houston, TX last Saturday, eyes focused on NRG Stadium, the site of the final SWAC Football Championship game to be played in December.
In order to have a chance at history, the Jags (6-3, 4-1 SWAC) needed to first handle business 8 miles away, as BBVA Compass Stadium was the site for their conference matchup with the Texas Southern Tigers (1-7, 1-5 SWAC), a team that finally reached the win column last week.
Just as The Human Jukebox took no time introducing themselves to the Ocean of Soul Marching Band, senior running back Herbert Edwards, made his presence felt all game long.
The conference’s second leading rusher reached the 100-yard mark with seconds remaining in the first quarter. For more than half of the game, Edwards had more rushing yards than the Tigers had total offense. He finished the game with 18 carries for 166 yards and a touchdown.
Odums was impressed with the running game and the offensive line. “[TSU] loaded the box. They played with 6, 7, [even] 8 man fronts. But we were still able to run the football. When you do that, you can tip your hat off to the offensive line, and you can tip your hat off to the running backs.”
To say the primary tenant of BBVA Compass Stadium is a professional soccer team, special teams experienced the toughest time adapting to the conditions. “The surface was a little disappointing,” Odums commented, “Our kickers really struggled.”
Both teams missed early chances to take the lead by missing field goals in the first quarter.
Edwards had the first big play of the game, scoring on a 71-yard touchdown with under a minute left. Southern took the 7-0 lead and never looked back.
The second quarter showcased senior quarterback, Austin Howard’s, ability to spearhead an offense that has found its stride with the passing game. At one point, Howard even had 5 straight completions, as the offense tried to adapt an up tempo rhythm.
The Jags’ extended drives did not result in touchdowns, but freshman kicker, Caesar Barajas, was able to convert two field goals, increasing Southern’s lead to 13.
The Jaguars carried that momentum into the second half, with Howard connecting with redshirt junior tight end,Dennis Craig, for a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping another extended drive for the offense.
Texas Southern could not help themselves at all when they had the ball. The Jaguars maintained a shutout bid up until the start of the fourth quarter. In 60 minutes of action, the Tigers could only complete three passes, mustering 50 passing yards to go with 8 first downs.
Senior defensive lineman Aaron Tiller, added two sacks to his resume. Both fumbles came from Southern defenders stripping the ball from Texas Southern.
Junior defensive back, Demerio Houston, gave the formula to their success: “Our scheme is to come in and be physical. If they don’t score, they can’t win.”
To end the third quarter, Houston returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, sealing the win for Southern University.
Edwards is already focused on their next opponent. “It’s win or go home at this point, its win or go home.”
The Jaguars have one more opponent to look forward to: the ‘counterparts from the North’. A win in New Orleans could give SU a chance at history.