The Southern Jaguars are the last unbeaten team left in the SWAC West, and they did it in grand style.
After recovering an Alcorn State fumble, running back Kendric Rhymes zoomed 51 yards to the end zone to cap a late 10-point burst that gave the Jaguars a 24-14 win, improving to 3-0 in division play and 4-3 overall. Alcorn State fell to 4-4 and 2-1 in SWAC West play.
It wasn’t easy, but Southern is in the driver’s seat with Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Grambling left on their division schedule. Here’s how they did it.
Kendric Rhymes was the reason for Southern’s backfield success
Rhymes’ insurance touchdown dash wrapped up an astounding 295-yard rushing day for the Jaguars. Rhymes carried 17 times for 133 yards, while Kobe Dillion added 91 yards on 15 carries.
Rhymes and Dillion were the key runners on a 15-play, 61-yard drive that chewed up 8 minutes of game time and led to the go-ahead field goal by kicker Joshua Griffin.
Turnovers decided Alcorn State’s fate
Neither team was especially careful with the ball, but Alcorn State’s turnovers hurt more in the end.
Trailing 17-14, Braves quarterback Xzavier Vaughn scrambled and lost the ball, which was scooped up by Jaguars safety Herman Brister III. Rhymes’ touchdown on the next play gave Southern a comfortable cushion and Alcorn State never recovered.
Alcorn State’s three turnovers to Southern’s single turnover were the difference in the game.
The Southern quarterback carousel continues
Noah Bodden started the game for Southern, completing 13 of 22 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, but had to leave the game due to an injury suffered on a run early in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt freshman Zae Teasett took over the remainder of the game, but the Jaguars chose to run the ball for the remainder of the contest, which turned out to be a sound strategy. The severity of Bodden’s injury was unknown, so it will be a wait-and-see situation as Southern prepares for a trip to Florida A&M next weekend.
The SWAC West race isn’t over — maybe
The Wild Wild West still has time to live up to its billing, but after Saturday night’s game, Southern is 3-0 while having the head-to-head tiebreaker over Alcorn State. Texas Southern is 1-1, and everyone else (Grambling, Prairie View, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff) has two division losses already.
Southern has a unique scheduling quirk: They won’t play UAPB until Nov. 16, then Grambling in the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving weekend.
If the Jaguars can stay healthy these next three weeks, they could secure their spot in the SWAC championship game sooner rather than later.
