Inching closer to leading the West: SU Overcomes Several Early Mistakes On Special Teams

Despite a sequence of special-teams errors over a six-minute span in the first half, the Southern University football team (7-3, 6-1) pulled it together when needed, to extend their winning streak to five, defeating a fairly troublesome Texas Southern Tigers (5-5, 3-5).
The Jags came out of the gates swinging. SU’s first score came from running back Tyre’ Bracken on a 1-yard touchdown. Then on Southern’s following offensive possession, they scored again, this time on an 86-yard drive. This particular touchdown, however, was one to be remembered. After starting quarterback Austin Howard fumbled, offensive lineman Reginald Redding picked up the loose football and ran it 12-yards, with the aid of several teammates, into the end zone.
“Talk about a dream come true,” said Southern head coach Dawson Odums, “It was a blessing for us to score, but for an offensive lineman to score that never happens. Any old offensive lineman sitting in the stands who witnessed that had to feel good about that young man scoring a touchdown.”
That once-in-lifetime moment propelled Southern to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. It seemed that SU would cruise unmitigated to an easy victory. But the Tigers’ special teams, clearly, had other plans in mind. Following Southern’s second score, the Jag defense seemed to have forced another three-and-out. In an attempt to punt from their own 32-yard line on fourth-and-one, Texas Southern’s punter Cory Carter mishandled the snap and flipped the ball to linebacker Gary Holmes for a 4-yard gain, giving them a first down. That opportunistic special-teams conversion on fourth-down ignited a succession of big plays that gave the Tigers much needed momentum. The first was a 34-yard touchdown ran in by running back Jimmy Potepa.
On the subsequent kickoff, TSU kicked a pop-up that soared into the air between two hesitant SU blockers, and TSU defensive back Darveion Trahan fell on top of the ball to take over inside of the Southern 20-yard line. SU’s defense held the fort, forcing the Tigers to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Chris Medina.
Southern’s offense finally returns to the field, goes a quick three-and-out, and Holmes breaks free through the line to block Paul Randle Soden’s punt. Defensive back Femi Adekeye scoops the ball up and runs 22-yards for a touchdown, giving TSU a 17-14 advantage with just 10:27 to play in the first half.
“It was unfortunate that we gave up those points. But in a way, it was fortunate for us so that we could get serious and come out to play our real game,” said running back Lenard Tillery.
Their “real game” began on the consequent kickoff, when playmaking wide receiver Willie Quinn returned the kick back to the Tigers’ 38-yard line. Led largely in part from four carries by Tillery, who finished with a game-high 125 rushing yards, Howard completed the scoring drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to give SU the lead back 21-17. Another field goal by Medina, this time from 27-yards out, made the deficit 21-20 heading into halftime.
The second half was completely dominated by Southern’s defense, who appears to be hitting their stride at the right time. The Jaguars held TSU to 220 yards total, holding them to an astounding 66 in the second half alone. On 34 rushes, the Tigers gained a meager 99 yards.
“Thirty-four rushing attempts for 99 yards is not a bad job. As a defense, you always want to hold the opponent to under 100 yards rushing. That was an outstanding job by the defense,” said linebacker Brian McCann.
SU’s defense also stifled the Tigers on 3rd and 4th down conversions, they finished 3-of-19 in both collectively. All defensive statistics were game highs for this 2014 season. By all accounts, from coaches and players alike, they appear to be hitting their stride.
“Everybody understands what we’re playing for,” said Coach Odums, “You’re starting to see how we can play when we get all the pieces together and practice with the same guy’s week in and week out. We still haven’t played that game where you say, ‘Wow!’ But we’re gaining on it, and I really think we’re going to find it before it’s too late.”
Up next for Southern will be a home finale against Mississippi Valley State, a team now under the leadership of former Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy. If the Jags manage to escape this weekend’s “trap game”, it will ensure a Bayou Classic matchup with Grambling State in the Mercedez-Benz Superdome for the SWAC’s Western Division crown.