Shut ’em down!

 
JACKSON, MISS. – The Southern University Jaguars football team’s 29-0 win against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (0-1 overall) was not just the first win of the 2003 season, but the first in Jags (1-0 overall) head coach Pete Richardson’s proclaimed “Return to Dominance.”
A crowd of 12,350 fans at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium watched Jags senior kick returner Ezra Landry return the opening kick 83 yards for a touchdown. That initial drive kicked off dominance of a running and passing game that had the Delta Devils literally falling to the sidelines.
“You know, it looked as if the kicker was trying to avoid kicking to me,” the New Orleans native said. “But as it headed to the sideline, I scooped it and 83 yards later, I was able to thank God for getting in the end zone.”
After Landry’s touchdown, MVSU lost composure when they received possession of the ball. Then they lost the football with a fumble by junior tight end Ian Richardson that was forced by Jags senior linebacker Kendrick Paul and recovered by freshman defensive back Jarmaul George at the SU 35-yard line.
Six plays later, senior running back Leon Miller scored with a two-yard touchdown run.
MVSU’s offense seemed lethargic when they regained possession of the football. Their second chance at scoring was foiled once again when Jags junior linebacker Taurus Morgan recovered another fumble. This time, the lost was at the hands of sophomore running back Joseph Harrell.
The third offensive drive of the Jags did not produce a touchdown. However, a score was earned by a 20-yard field goal attempt by freshman kicker Montie Ackley. Ackley also kicked a 37-yard field goal later in the second quarter of the game propelling the Jags to 20 points.
With 41 seconds left in the second quarter, the Jags defense got in on the scoring. After Mississippi Valley junior quarterback Curtis Kemp was sacked on the MVSU 40-yard line, senior quarterback Carey Weaver lost six more yards at the hands of junior tackle Perry Davis.
With fourth down and 12 yards to go, freshman kicker Christopher Kitchens was rushed for a loss of 34 yards by senior defensive back D’Angelo Lewis, leaving Kitchens in the end zone and Lewis with a safety.
On Southern’s initial drive of the third quarter, a 69-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Quincy Richard to sophomore wide-out James Vernon proved to be the play that took the Delta Devils out of the game.
Vernon had nothing but praise for a Southern offensive line that suffered multiple injuries last season.
“We did a good job,” Vernon said. “It felt good to have our line defending us. They are more mature and confident this season. They did well, and so did we.”
Southern did not score again, but the Jaguars’ defense did not allow an unproductive MVSU offense to get any closer than 7 yards to the end zone. Southern’s offense had 347 total yards to MVSU’s 147. Although Richard suffered two interceptions and a sack, he passed for 218 and a touchdown.
Landry returned two punts for four yards, but his 83-yard kick return was also the first in his collegiate career.
Junior punter Colby Miller added to the Jags special teams punting three times averaging just over 37 yards. Junior rusher Kenneth Peoples rushed 23 times for 118 total yards.