TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Senior placekicker Christian Jacquemin converted four field goals and the Jackson State defense and special teams delivered to lead the Tigers past Florida A&M 18-16 Saturday evening.
“I’m really proud of how we responded as a team,” JSU head coach Tony Hughes said. “We faced adversity and dealt with it well. We are such a young team and for our team to go through this and come out on the right side, it’s huge for the program as we move forward to SWAC play in two weeks.”
Three of Jacquemin’s field goals were 40 yards or longer, including the go-ahead field goal of 44 yards in the fourth quarter.
“Christian is a great and reliable placekicker. He’s a senior and is under the radar, despite being efficient,” Hughes said. “He came up big for the team and he deserves the accolades.”
FAMU attempted a 30-yard field goal with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Jackson native and Provine High School product junior Khalil Johnson blocked the attempt to preserve the lead.
Junior Jordan Johnson proved to be a dual-threat and rushed for a team-high 93 yards and hauled in a team-high 64 yards through the air.
Sophomore Derrick Ponder had his first break out performance for the Tigers and went 25-for-41 for 270 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Bells, Texas native spread the ball around with 10 players recording a catch.
Ponder connected with junior Ra’Meik Wallace at the 5:22 mark in the third quarter for JSU’s lone touchdown.
Senior linebacker Eric Bowie was all over the field for the Tigers. The Monroe, Louisiana native finished with a team-high seven tackles and was in on two pass breakups.
Junior defensive back Ryan Theyard added six tackles and recorded a sack and forced a fumble.
JSU (1-1) is off next week and returns to action Saturday, September 29 at 4 p.m. versus Alabama A&M in the annual W.C. Gorden Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Courtesy: JSU Athletics
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