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Coach TC Taylor preparing for the 2024 Pepsi SWAC Football Classic Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save In a game that mirrored Southern’s victory against Alcorn State, Jackson State scored a crucial victory against Florida A&M and seized control of the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division with a 35-21 win on Saturday. The game was much closer than the final score. Like Southern-Alcorn, the game was tied at 14-14 at the half and wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.
And like Southern in the West Division, Jackson State now has control of its division with a 3-0 conference record. The Jaguars play at Florida A&M at 6 p.m.
Saturday. “I was pleased with how my team came out and played four quarters, then found a way to win,” said Jackson State coach TC Taylor , whose team was dominated 28-10 by the Rattlers last season. “It was a championship level feel in the Vet this past weekend.
I’m proud of where we are right now.” The game came down to a big defensive play. Jackson State defensive tackle Tru Thompson sacked FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson with 3:34 left, and Philip Webb scooped and scored the resulting fumble from 20 yards out to erase a 21-20 Rattlers' lead.
Jacobian Morgan ran for the two-point conversion to make it 28-21. FAMU tried to rally, but Karter Johnson fumbled after catching a pass and the ball was recovered by Ashton Taylor at the FAMU 18 with 3:15 left. Emari Matthews scored his second TD of the day on a 2-yard run with 1:16 left to clinch it.
“Tru Thompson did a great job of splitting the double team and laid into him,” Taylor said. “Phillip Webb has been playing good football all year long. To pick it up and get into the end zone was awesome.
A big-time play. “I’ve played a lot of games in the Vet and coached some, and that was probably the loudest I ever heard it get on that particular play.” Jackson State survived four turnovers and the passing of Richardson, who threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns but committed two of their three turnovers at crunch time.
“We’ve done a pretty good job of finishing games throughout the year and in my time," Florida A&M coach James Colzie said. "Jackson State did a good job of finishing. “If I had drawn it up to have us up 21-20, four minutes left on the clock and our offense coming on the field, I would have taken that.
Credit Coach (Tayor) and staff for finishing stronger than we did.” Magic time The biggest game in the East division may not have immediate ramifications in the standings, but Birmingham, Alabama, will be electric when Alabama A&M (3-3, 1-1) and Alabama State (3-3, 2-1) meet in the Magic City Classic. “Some people say the only game you gotta win is the Magic City Classic,” said A&M coach Connell Maynor , whose team has lost the last two meetings.
“It’s huge for the fans. “We have the press conference on Wednesday by the stadium and it’s half way already packed with tailgaters and people in RVs — our fans and theirs. It’s a huge deal for both sides.
” Both teams had byes last weekend and are trying to stay alive in the East Division race. “It’s the game everybody talks about the whole year,” Alabama State coach Eddie Robinson said. “When coach Maynor and I go to Birmingham for the golf tournament, they’re talking about it.
It’s fun to play in, fun to coach in. The city does a great job. The people come out and support it.
No school on Friday, no games this weekend, the whole city is focused on the Magic City Classic.” First-timer Grambling coach Mickey Joseph got his first SWAC win as the G-Men held off a determined Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday 31-21. The Tigers clinched the game on a 9-yard run by Dedrick Talbert with 1:41 remaining.
UAPB had cut the margin to 24-21 on a 12-yard TD pass from Mekhi Hagens to Kristian Gammage with 14:05 left. Hagens completed 27 of 41 passes for 230 yards and two TDs, and Za’Marion Weber rushed for 93 yards on 15 tries. Grambling quarterback Myles Crawley passed for 170 yards and a touchdown while Ke’Travion Hargrove rushed for 75 yards and a TD on 10 carries.
“It was good to get back into the win column,” Joseph said. “We asked them to focus, finish and win the middle eight, and they did their part.” Southern in Southern got back into the BOXTOROW HBCU poll at No.
8 thanks to its 24-14 victory over Alcorn State. North Carolina Central moved into the top spot for the first time this season and Jackson State was No. 2, receiving three first-place votes.
Florida A&M dropped to No. 4 and Alabama State was No. 10.
Bus trip The Blue and Gold Club will sponsor a bus trip to the Florida A&M game in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday. For more information, contact Craig Pierre at (225) 324-7234..
