Jackson State not only lost to rival Grambling State on Saturday night, but the team was also without its All-SWAC quarterback.
Quarterback JaCobian Morgan suffered an apparent lower leg injury during the first quarter of the Tigers’ 26–24 loss to Grambling State at the P&G Las Vegas HBCU Classic.
The injury occurred after Morgan had led Jackson State on a 10-play, 86-yard drive capped by a touchdown run that gave his team an early 7–0 lead.
Following the drive, Morgan was seen limping on the sideline before entering the medical tent. Moments later, he left the sidelines and returned wearing sweats, using crutches, and sporting a walking boot on his left foot.
An HBCUGO slideline report indicated he was out for the rest of the game.
At the time of his exit, Morgan had completed 3 of 6 passes for 63 yards and added a 7-yard rushing touchdown. Redshirt freshman quarterback Parker Stofa took over under center for the remainder of the game, completing two passes for 53 yards and adding 19 rushing yards on four carries.
Jackson State held a 7–0 lead when Morgan went down, but the Tigers struggled to sustain momentum without their starting quarterback. Grambling’s late-game surge, punctuated by a 44-yard field goal from Josh McCormick with under two minutes remaining, sealed the 26-24 upset victory.
After the game, coach T.C. Taylor addressed Morgan’s condition but said he could not provide a clear update, mentioning only what he observed and expected to learn more after consulting with medical staff:
“I don’t know much,” Taylor told The Clarion Ledger. “I just know he couldn’t finish the game, so once I get back in (the locker room), I’ll meet with the training staff, the doctors and see what he has going on. I did see him with a boot. I can say that, but I really don’t have a definitive answer of what’s going on with his foot right now.”
Morgan was replaced by Redshirt freshman Parker Stofa, who went 7 of 12 for 91 yards before true freshman Jared Lockhart played in the fourth quarter, leading the Tigers on a scoring drive.
