On third-and-goal from just inside the two-yard line, Jackson State running back Irv Mulligan took the handoff from quarterback Jacobian Morgan and plowed his 205-pound body into a helpless South Carolina State defender who attempted a goalline tackle.
But the bruising back — a sixth-year senior — pushed through for his second touchdown of his final collegiate game that put Jackson State ahead 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
The score capped a 10-play, six-minute drive that symbolized how JSU had dominated and dispirited S.C. State en route to a 28-7 win on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 36,823. The victory captured the program’s first Celebration Bowl win in three tries and the first Black College National title since 1996.
“They went out there and dominated,” said JSU coach T.C. Taylor. “To be a national champion today feels awesome.”
Jackson State (12-2) was the aggressor, sometimes too much from the outset. An example of that occurred following a first-quarter South Carolina State punt when SWAC Freshman of the Year Travis Terrell weaved his way down the field on what was thought to be an electric 66-yard TD.
However, the return score was taken off the board due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty committed by Allen Walker. Jackson State didn’t score on the offensive possession but immediately established what kind of game would be played.
And that was symbolized by one of the great drives in Celebration Bowl history. It started ironically enough on a misfire by Morgan on the first play. Then, there was a fumble by the quarterback on the second snap after Bulldogs defensive lineman Josh Baker sacked him.
The Syracuse transfer completed a pass for 13 yards on third down that kept the drive alive. The next inflection point came on fourth down at the Tigers’ 41-yard line. Taylor decided to go for it, and Mulligan bulldozed his way for a six-yard gain.
From that point, Jackson State ran another six plays that were capped off by a two-yard Ermani Matthews TD to put the Tigers up 7-0. JSU used up 9:36 on the clock over 19 plays when it was done.
Morgan threw for 219 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception for the game. He was named Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP. Mulligan rushed for 75 yards on 25 attempts, while Joanes Fortilien hauled in a pair of touchdown receptions.
WATCH YOUR HEAD!!#GuardTheeYard #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/ozezOK60wE
— Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb) December 14, 2024
“My mindset was to catch everything,” said Fortilien. “It was no big deal.”
South Carolina State (9-3), which had 23 days in between games, seemingly could not mentally or physically recover from that epic Jackson State drive.
“We did a good job of getting to third down,” said Bulldogs coach Chennis Berry. “When we got to third down, they were finding ways to stay on the field. So anytime someone can get a 19-play drive on you, that’s going to wear you down.
For the remainder of the game, the defense appeared tired and out of sorts, particularly having to endure several players sustaining injuries or battling fatigue as JSU held the ball for 36 minutes, 11 seconds compared to 23:49 for South Carolina State.
The worn defense didn’t get much assistance from HBCU Player of the Year Eric Phoenix and the high-scoring S.C. State offense. The Benedict College transfer went 13 of 31 for 143 yards and a rushing TD and was benched in favor of backup Ryan Stubblefield to start the third quarter before eventually returning in the fourth quarter.
Overall, Berry said the team was mentally ready to play but didn’t execute against a determined Jackson State that was 9 of 16 on third-down conversions and limited S.C. State to 178 yards of total offense and 30 yards rushing.
“Jackson State did a really good job of stopping the run,” he said. “We didn’t get it done today, but we had a very successful year, and I’m proud of these young men.”
Jackson State, on the other hand, could finally relish winning this game after two previous tries had failed. It was a triumph that also meant so much for Taylor, who remembers watching JSU football as a 10-year-old before later yearning to be the head coach at the only school he loved.
“I wanted this moment. I knew this moment was going to happen,” said Taylor, who played quarterback and wide receiver at Jackson State and had suffered defeat in three previous Celebration Bowl games as an assistant at North Carolina Central and JSU. I kind of wanted it last year. And the guys (players) came in here and changed the culture.
“They believed in me. I said we’re going to work our butts off because we were going to get to this moment.”
