Jaguars get physical to regain its edge

From the day Dawson Odums returned to Southern University in December as head coach, he has repeated a very familiar theme.
“They got me,” he said after spending several minutes drying off from players drenching him in water after the Jaguars 40-17 victory over Grambling last Saturday.
The win evened the series 20-20.
The Jaguars did it without snazzy new uniforms, unlike the Tigers, who finished its season with the school’s worst overall record and will be remembered as the program where players walked out in mid-season.
“I’m OK with that because you know what? One thing it did is brought a lot of attention to this one game,” Grambling coach Dennis Winston said. “The world wanted to see what these guys were going to do. … I think they represented well. Southern today was just a better football team.”
Indeed, they were.
Odums team exited the field with its second straight win over the Tigers in back-to-back seasons. His unit provided some lasting snapshots from the game, one that includes freshman running back Lenard Tillery scoring for the first time in the classic game.
The Jaguars will remember wide receiver Lee Doss’ two touchdown catches in the second quarter, triggering a 27-3 halftime lead.
“I just want to play a good game and get a win,” Doss said, who tied former SU receiver Charles Hawkins with three scores in the big game. When it was happening I was happy of course because Charles is like my brother.”
Hawkins and Doss last played together last season.
“To see him do that and come back and tie with him I’m appreciative of that.”
Doss finished with six catches for 117 yards, also surpassing former SU receiver Juamorris Stewart for most receiving yards in a season with 1,047.
“He’s our best wide receiver,” said Odums. “Look at the day he had today.”
SU quarterback Dray Joseph, who finished with 226 passing yards, noted that the Jaguars would enjoy the victory for 24 hours then begin to prepare for Jackson State for the SWAC title Dec 7^th.
It was a similar formula Saturday, as Grambling State’s secondary had no answers for the Jaguars talented receivers group, which has three players who earned player of the week at least once.
“When guys step up…it’s hard to double team Lee Doss,” Joseph said, who tied former SU quarterback Bryant Lee for the most touchdown passes in the school’s history with 70. “He played well tonight for his last Bayou Classic.”
The road ahead, at least for now, doesn’t matter much for Winston and his players.
“I’m just going to do the best job I can do until they tell me, `Hey, you’re fired,” Winston said. “Until something is permanent, I’m going to continue to work, continue to recruit, continue to talk to these players.”
Grambling pulled within 27-17 when quarterback Johnathan Williams threw touchdown passes of 11 yards and 8 yards. But in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars defense thwarted the comeback attempt by forcing turnovers. Williams was intercepted by SU defensive back Virgil Williams. Later, Williams lost a fumble on a sack by linebacker Daniel Brown.
“Its definitely a good feeling to get a win in a game like this,” SU’s Williams said, who said he was in the right place at the right time. “They had been running the route they just didn’t hit it. My coaches in the press box saw it.”