JACKSON, Miss.- Jackson State built an early lead against Alcorn State, and held on to win 27-21 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night to clinch its second consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division and the right to host the SWAC Championship on Dec. 6.
Jackson State, winners of four consecutive games, built a 17-0 lead with a pair of rushing touchdowns and a 43-yard field goal by Gerardo Baeza in the opening quarter before Alcorn State, answered with a long pass to cut the deficit to 17-7. The Tigers were able to close out the opening half with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Jared Lockhart to Nate Rembert with just 1:43 to play, taking a 24-7 lead into halftime.
The two teams traded points in the second half with Jackson State holding a 27-21 lead with just over two minutes to play. Following a turnover on offense with under a minute to play, Jackson State used its stingy defense to thwart another last second effort from an opponent this season. The Jackson State secondary batted down a pair of pass attempts in the final nine seconds including a Hail Mary on the game's final play to clinch its spot in the championship game.
Ahmad Miller became the second back in as many years to eclipse 1,000 yards - joining Irv Mulligan in 2024 - finishing with 106 yards on 15 carries, while Donerio Davenport finished with 52 yards on eight carries to help the Tigers to 185 total rushing yards. Meanwhile, Lockhart finished 15-of-17 passing for 194 yards and a touchdown, connecting with eight different receivers including Rembert who finished with seven receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Shamar Hawkins led the Tigers with eight tackles, while Ashton Taylor finished with seven on the night. Reid Pulliam and KJ Chisholm Jr. each finished with seven tackles and a tackle for loss. The Tigers finished with six tackles for loss on the night and held Alcorn State to just 148 yards rushing.
How It Happened
1st Quarter (11:22) - Miller 1-yd run (Baeza kick); Jackson State 7-0.
1st Quarter (3:09) - Baeza 43-yd field goal; Jackson State 10-0.
1st Quarter (0:00) - Travis Terrell Jr. 1-yd run (Baeza kick); Jackson State 17-0.
2nd Quarter (11:12) - Tyran Warren 64-yd pass from Jaylon Tolbert (Lorenzo Garcia kick); Jackson State 17-7.
2nd Quarter (1:43) - Rembert 55-yd pass from Lockhart (Baeza kick); Jackson State 24-7.
3rd Quarter (12:32) - Reggie Davis 44-yd run (Garcia kick); Jackson State 24-14.
4th Quarter (9:06) - Baeza 23-yd field goal; Jackson State 27-14.
4th Quarter (2:26) - Warren 17-yd pass from Tolbert (Garcia kick); Jackson State 27-21.
About the SWAC
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing with professional sports teams.
Current championship competition offered by the league includes competition for men in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, and Tennis.
Women’s competition is offered in the sports of Basketball, Bowling, Cross Country, Golf, Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, and Volleyball.
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