The BoomBox Classic promised excitement, and for a brief moment, The Jaguars seemed ready to deliver. Coming into the matchup with six straight losses to Jackson State and a record of 1-3, the Jags were looking for a spark to turn things around. Transfer, Running back, Trey Holly ignited the crowd with a 73-yard touchdown run that gave the Jaguars a 13–10 lead late in the second quarter, and fans roared as hope filled the stands that Southern might finally take control of this storied rivalry.
Football is often a game of small mistakes turning into big consequences. Quarterback Ashton Strother, who had been moving the offense steadily, threw a critical interception deep in Jackson State territory late in the second quarter. Strother, reflecting on his interception, accepted responsibility for the turning point. “I just got to tuck it and run it, be smarter with the football,” he said. “We had them on their heels, but it was a domino effect. That’s on me as the leader of this team — I’ve got to execute better.
Moments later, a roughing-the-kicker penalty extended the Tigers drive, and Jackson State capitalized with an 82-yard Hail Mary touchdown just before halftime, turning the scoreboard to 17–13 and shifting momentum firmly in their favor.
“We were prepared to go out and win this ball game,” Southern Coach Graves said after the game. “We were playing well and then started shooting ourselves in the foot, and it just snowballed. That’s the thing we haven’t overcome this season. We start fast, but we’re not finishing strong.”
Despite the setback, Holly’s performance was a highlight as he finished with 147 rushing yards on 15 carries, showing the explosiveness that makes him a game-changing talent. His electric burst just wasn’t enough to spark a second-half revival, as the Tigers poured in 21 unanswered points and controlled the tempo with a balanced offense that left Southern’s defense on its heels.
Penalties were also costly for the Jaguars, with more than ten committed throughout the game. “The mental penalties bother me — false starts, face masks — things you can control,” said Graves. “We definitely shot ourselves in the foot. But we’re not going to lay down. That’s not what we’re about. The only thing I know how to do is work. We’ll get this fixed.”
Southern now heads into a bye week with time to regroup before traveling to face Bethune-Cookman on October 11. While the final score is disappointing, the Jaguars showed flashes of talent and resilience. If they can reduce turnovers, avoid mental errors, and finish drives, there’s reason for hope that Southern can turn these promising moments into wins down the stretch.
