Seniors to play final game in Mumford stadium

The last time the Southern Jaguars (6-4, 6-2) played in Mumford also happened to be the last time its senior football players’ loss a game this season. It was on Oct. 26 in overtime against Alcorn on homecoming night. But that defeat might have been the inspiration for the Jaguars returned swagger.
The loss didn’t take away the feeling that returned to the Jaguars and their fans when Justin Morgan recovered an on-side kick attempt the following week against Texas Southern. A certain feeling had come back, a swagger. Since that night, the Jaguars haven’t loss a game. A team that was supposed to be stumbling due to NCAA sanctions is headed to conference championship with an offense that is as explosive as any around.
On Saturday night, they get another chance to do something they haven’t done since 2009. The Jaguars will enter Saturday’s game against Clark Atlanta, looking for its third win in a row. Alcorn and Jackson State each snapped the Jaguars streak of two games so far this season. Both games were played in Mumford.
“This is our third opportunity this year to get it,” said head coach Dawson Odums, whose team will play Jackson in the title game Dec. 7^th.
Odums believes that his team can accomplish the streak if they do the necessary things to win football games. “If our guys just do the necessary things that we talk about this week getting prepared for this team then I think we’ll be okay.”
Players also know that there’s no better way to make a statement than to go into Mumford Saturday and prove it on the field. Quarterback Dray Joseph feels’ that his final home game will be “bitter sweet”. “I’m just trying to get better and try to improve on my craft in order to help my team build momentum,” said Joseph.
Joseph, who ranks nationally in passing yards (9^th with 2905 yards) and touchdown passes (8^th with 23), threw for 432 yards and four touchdowns and added 24 yards on the ground as Southern got by Alabama State 31-28 last weekend.
“It was an opportunity for our guys to see how we would measure up against a really good Southern team,” said head Reggie Barlow of Alabama State. “We had them 21-7. We knew Southern had an explosive offense. Hey had big plays. That’s really what is came down to.” The Jaguars have taken two of four from the Hornets’, with both wins coming away from Mumford.
For Clark, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-28 win over Edward Water College in their final home game of its season last weekend, is currently fourth in the East Division of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
“We all know that games aren’t won on Saturday, they’re won during the week,” Joseph added.
The Jaguars have followed each conference loss with two straight wins, outscoring opponents 111-90. Senior defensive back Virgil Williams, one of many seniors being honored this weekend, pointed out that Odums usually highlights adversity as an obstacle and that Saturday is a must-win. Williams said that he feels the Jaguars have handled adversity well so far this season.
“It really builds character and lets you know about yourself and how you handle those situations,” said Williams.