JACKSON, Miss. – Jackson State shredded Southern’s top-ranked rush defense for 308 yards on the ground, but the Jaguars rallied in the second half to defeat the Tigers 40-34.
SU improved to 7-4 and 5-1 in the SWAC, while JSU falls to 4-7 and 3-3 in the conference.
Junior running back Keshawn Harper was the main cog in the Tigers’ offense. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder rushed for a game-high 208 yards and averaged nine and a half yards per carry.
Freshman quarterback Jalon Jones ran for 105 yards and for the second week in a row two Tigers rushed for 100 yards or more. Jones also went 16-of-30 for 224 yards and four touchdowns. The Henrico, Virginia native accounted for 329 yards of total offense.
Sophomore DD Bowie proved to be a match-up problem for the Jaguar secondary and hauled in six receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown.
Khalil Arrington finished with a game-high nine tackles, including eight solo stops. Ryan Theyard added eight tackles and Keonte Hampton came through with five and a half stops.
Brian Mitchell delivered a sack and forced a fumble, while Rashaad Jenkins made a big first-half interception.
The Tigers went into halftime with a 24-17 lead, due to a pair of late second-quarter touchdowns.
Jones found Terrell Kennedy for a 23-yard pitch-and-catch at 1:44 in the quarter and on the ensuing kickoff Daniel Crowell forced a fumble. Jones connected with Ra’Meik Wallace from 34 yards out with 45 seconds remaining in the half.
The Tigers conclude the season Saturday at home versus rival Alcorn State. The 2019 Senior Class will be honored prior to the start of the game.
Courtesy: JSU Athletics
