Courtesy: JSU Sports Information
GRAMBLING, La. – The Jackson State football team put its best game together when the Tigers squared off against rival Grambling State Saturday evening at Robinson Stadium. JSU dominated the game from start to finish en route to a 53-17 victory. With the win JSU improves to a 5-4 overall record and a 5-2 SWAC mark. Grambling falls to 1-8, 0-7 record.
Jackson State scored in every quarter of play against Grambling State. GSU opened the game with a 37-yard field goal, to cap a five play, 27 yard drive at the 10:26 mark in the first quarter. JSU responded with its first touchdown at 7:54 in the first when Michael Perkins hauled in a Clayton Moore pass for 21 yards. The scored capped a five play, 55 yard drive.
The Tigers increased its lead to 13-3 when Rakeem Sims capped an eight play, 75 yard drive with a three yard TD run at the 1:46 mark in the first. JSU opened the second quarter with a six yard scoring run by Tommy Gooden, to make the score 19-3. The run capped a seven play, 69 yard drive. JSU failed on the point conversion.
The JSU Tigers continued to build on its lead. Ryan Griffin’s 58 yard interception return at the 8:37 mark in the second quarter put the game out of reach. Ryan Deising’s point after kick made the score 26-3. JSU then increased its lead to 32-3 when Clayton Moore connected with Rico Richardson on a 19 yard pass play for a touchdown.
Rakeem Sims scored his second touchdown of the game when he plunged in from two yards out, capping an eight play, 65 yard drive. The point after kick made the score 39-3. JSU scored its 46th straight point on a Sedmon Capler four yard run at the 3:14 mark in the third. Grambling scored its first touchdown of the game when Edward Patterson returned a kick 94 yards for the score at the 3:01 mark. Two minutes later Phillip McCain recovered a JSU fumble in the end zone to make the score 46-17.
Jackson State scored its final points of the game when Dedric McDonald connected with Stedmon Capler for an 11 yard touchdown play.
JSU dominated GSU on both sides of the ball. The Tigers rushed for 184 team yards and held Grambling to only five rushing yards (a JSU record). JSU passed for 308 yards and held the G-Men to 240.
Tommy Gooden and Rakeem Sims led JSU’s ground attack. Gooden finished with a game-high 73 yards and a TD, while Sims had 51 yards and two touchdowns. Tim Rush finished with 30 yards on five rushing attempts. Clayton Moore passed for a game-high 257 yards and two TDs.
Rico Richards hauled in a game-high five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. He is 65 yards from reaching 1,000 yards for the season. Zach Pendleton caught three passes for 54 yards, DeSuan McKenzie had two catches for 48 yards and Michael Perkins caught two passes for 44 yards.
The JSU defense was led by Todd Wilcher and John McNabb who each recorded eight tackles. Johnathan Billups followed with six tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss
Under head coach Rick Comegy, JSU had never beaten Grambling State in a regular season game. Under Comegy, JSU’s only win against the G-men came in the 2007 SWAC Championship game.
Jackson State and Alabama A&M will square off Saturday, Nov. 10 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium at 4 pm. The game will likely decide which team represents the Eastern Division in the SWAC Championship game. Below is ticket information .
$15.00 (Military Price) – Active Military (all branches), Veterans, Reserves, JROTC and Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) – must show valid military ID to purchase tickets.Military appreciation tickets can be purchased at the JSU Athletics Ticket Office and Miss. Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tickets will be $30.00 on game day.
$20.00 (Fan Appreciation Price) – with donation of a canned good (this offer is valid now through Nov. 9). No canned goods will be accepted on game day. Fan appreciation tickets can be purchased at the JSU Athletics Ticket Office and Miss. Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tickets will be $30.00 on game day.
