For the second consecutive season and fourth time in the last five seasons, Jackson State owns the SWAC East.
The Tigers survived a fourth-quarter rally by Alcorn State to win 27-21 in the regular-season finale on Saturday.
Freshman quarterback Jared Lockhart threw for one score and ran for another to pace the Tigers (9-2, 7-1 SWAC), who opened the game with 17 unanswered points. Running back Ahmad Miller set the tone early with a 57-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, and Lockhart punched it in from a yard out to put Jackson State on top 7-0.
Gerardo Baeza added a field goal, and Travis Terrell Jr. scored on a short run as the Tigers led 17-0 after the first quarter.
Alcorn State (5-7, 4-4) responded when Jaylon Tolbert connected with Tyran Warren for a 64-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 10. But Lockhart immediately answered, hitting Nate Rembert for a 55-yard scoring strike on the next play to make it 24-7 at halftime.
Final play! Dark side defense, I just wanna say thank you… #GUARDTHEEYARD #PROTECTTHEEVET #JSU #THEEILOVE pic.twitter.com/DSdektki8W
— L D S (@Laamon06) November 23, 2025
Reggie Davis got the Braves closer with a 44-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter, but Baeza’s short field goal with 9:06 left provided just enough cushion. Tolbert found Warren again for a 17-yard score on fourth down with 2:19 remaining to pull within a touchdown.
But as the Tigers tried to run the clock out on a kneel-down play, Lockhart fumbled the snap and Alcorn State recovered the loose ball.
A final Hail Mary attempt by Tolbert was knocked down in the end zone by the Jackson State defense to seal the win.
Lockhart finished 15 of 17 passing for 194 yards, while Rembert caught seven passes for 120 yards. Miller rushed for 106 yards on 15 carries. For the Braves, Tolbert threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, Warren hauled in seven receptions for 111 yards, and Davis ran for 120 yards on 15 attempts.
