Jackson State Tigers Top Southern 33-15 in SWAC Opener

Jackson, MS – September 14, 2024 – Jackson State began their Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) campaign in dominant fashion, defeating Southern 33-15 at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of 32,027 fans. The Tigers relied on a balanced attack, racking up 399 total yards with three of their four touchdowns coming via the ground game.

Jackson State Takes Control Early

The Tigers wasted no time in asserting control. Kicker Gerardo Baeza opened the scoring with a 25-yard field goal early in the first quarter. Jackson State quickly followed with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from J.D. Martin, capping off an 11-play, 72-yard drive to put the Tigers ahead 10-0.

The offensive dominance continued into the second quarter. Quarterback Jacobian Morgan connected with Marvin Landy for a 30-yard touchdown pass, extending Jackson State's lead to 16-0, though the extra point was missed. Running back Ahmad Miller further padded the Tigers' lead with a 30-yard run, putting Jackson State comfortably ahead 23-0 before Southern managed to get on the scoreboard late in the half with a 29-yard field goal by Joshua Griffin.

Second-Half Response from Southern

Southern's struggles continued into the second half as they trailed 26-3 after another Baeza field goal for Jackson State. However, the Jaguars found some momentum midway through the third quarter. A 3-yard touchdown run by CJ Russell concluded a 75-yard drive, though the two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Southern trailing 26-9.

Despite the Jaguars’ efforts, Jackson State responded swiftly with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Irv Mulligan, increasing their lead to 33-9. Southern managed one more score in the fourth quarter, a 16-yard touchdown pass from Noah Bodden to Jermaine Minor Jr., but another failed two-point conversion left the final score at 33-15.

Key Performances

Jackson State quarterback Jacobian Morgan had a solid outing, completing 12 of 21 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Irv Mulligan led the Tigers with 51 yards on 13 carries, including a touchdown.

For Southern, Noah Bodden threw for 352 yards on 17-of-29 passing, including one touchdown, but was hindered by two interceptions. Despite Bodden’s aerial success, the Jaguars’ run game was stifled, with top rusher K. Rhymes managing just 18 yards on 8 carries. Wide receiver D. Morris was a bright spot for Southern, hauling in 5 catches for 86 yards.

Team Stats and Turnovers

While Southern outgained Jackson State in total yardage with 416 yards to 399, turnovers were a crucial factor. The Jaguars committed two turnovers, both interceptions, while Jackson State played a clean game with zero turnovers. The Tigers also held a slight edge in possession time, controlling the ball for 31:15 compared to Southern’s 28:45.

Looking Ahead

Jackson State opens their SWAC season with an impressive 1-0 record and will look to build on this momentum. Southern, now 0-1 in conference play, will need to clean up their mistakes as they move forward in the season.

Jackson State's head coach expressed satisfaction with the victory but acknowledged there’s room for improvement, particularly in sustaining drives. Southern will need to regroup quickly as they face more SWAC challenges in the coming weeks.