Jackson State football are SWAC East champions.
The No. 20 Tigers (9-2, 7-0 SWAC) claimed their third SWAC East title in the last four years with a 16-10 win over Alabama State (5-5, 4-3) in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saturday. JSU’s last East title was in 2022.
JSU will host Southern in the SWAC title game on Dec. 7 after Southern beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-9 on Saturday.
Ball security and penalties hurt JSU, but its defense came through on third down stops, limiting Alabama State from advancing anywhere near the red zone. The Tigers added a safety with two minutes remaining in the game.
“We always talk about the team that can make adjustments in championship-type games, and that’s what we did today,” JSU coach T.C. Taylor said. “I think Coach (Torenzo) Quinn called a heck of a game our defensive coordinator, that defensive staff and our players played well.”
Multiple players were involved in a fight during the postgame handshakes. Payers started to shove one another, which led to pulling helmets and punches from players being thrown. JSU’s and Alabama State’s coaching staff tried to break up the crowd of players and eventually diluted it.
JSU told the Clarion Ledger it will not comment on the matter.
Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross released a statement.
“Alabama State University is deeply disappointed by the actions of some members of our football team involved in a physical altercation following the football game versus Jackson State University, aired on national television,” Ross wrote. “This behavior does not reflect the values, standards, or rich legacy of our esteemed institution.
“The University is currently conducting a thorough review of the incident and will take appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with our policies.”
Here’s a look at how JSU claimed the SWAC East title by beating Alabama State.
Starting the fourth quarter, JSU held Alabama State to minus-4 passing yards and under 100 for the game. JSU had nine tackles for loss and three sacks and registered its fifth straight game without allowing a point in the second half.
“Our defense stepped up today, and that’s what this team has been about all year,” Taylor said. “We had each other back all year to cover one another. And they kept saying, ‘Offense, we got you,’ and they went out there and found a way to close this game out for us.”
However, Daquon Kincey and the Hornets’ run game produced. Kincey had 144 rushing yards and Alabama State finished with 184 rushing yards.
Receivers Ja’Naylon Dupree and Jameel Gardner Jr. aided JSU in a big way. While Alabama State’s No. 1 defense limited star running back Irv Mulligan, the Tigers’ passing game had to be efficient. Quarterback Jacobian Morgan added to that by finding Gardner on a 24-yard score to give JSU its first touchdown. Later Morgan found Dupree in open space for a 44-yard touchdown.
The Tigers had 120 receiving yards.
While JSU recovered a fumble and recorded an interception, its miscues on offense hurt promising drives and gave more time of possession to Alabama State. Eight penalties for 85 yards kept the JSU offense backtracking and surrendering unnecessary yardage. JSU only lost one fumble but had four in total. Morgan also had an interception.
JSU’s Ashton Taylor sacks quarterback Kareem Keye in the end zone for a safety with 2:02 remaining in the fourth quarter. JSU will get the ball back.
Alabama State capitalizes on a JSU turnover and scores on a Daquon Kincey 46-yard rushing touchdown with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter.
Jacobian Morgan found receiver Ja’Naylon Dupree over the middle and saw Dupree fly by defenders for a 44-yard score with 7:37 remaining in the third quarter.
JSU quarterback Jacobian Morgan finds Jameel Gardner Jr. for a 24-yard passing touchdown to give the Tigers their first points of the game with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter.
Following a missed field goal from JSU’s Gerardo Baeza, Alabama State responds with a 32-yard field goal by Brandon Gilliam with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Jackson State versus Alabama State will be streamed on ESPN, and Tolly Carr will be on the call with analyst Mo Carter.
Jackson State 35, Alabama State 24: JSU will come out of Montgomery SWAC East champions. While Alabama State brings a talented defense, JSU’s offense will be overwhelming. JSU should be able to handle the Hornets’ fifth-string quarterback.
JSU will be without wide receivers Tyquan Henderson, Rico Powers Jr., Kobe Paul and Fabian McCray.
According to AccuWeather, it will be 74 degrees at kickoff with five mph winds and a 0% chance of rain.
Aug. 29: Louisiana Monroe 30, Jackson State 14.
Sept. 7: Jackson State 58, Lane 7.
Sept. 14: Jackson State 33, Southern 15.
Sept. 21: Grambling State 41, Jackson State 20.
Sept. 28: Jackson State 43, Texas Southern 14.
Oct. 5: Jackson State 45, Alabama A&M 38.
Oct. 19: Jackson State 35, Florida A&M 21.
Oct. 26: Jackson State 37, Bethune-Cookman 17
Nov. 2: Jackson State 41, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3.
Nov. 9: Jackson State 51, Mississippi Valley State 14.
Nov. 16: at Alabama State
Nov. 23: at Alcorn State
Sept. 1: North Carolina Central 31, Alabama State 24.
Sept. 7: Alabama State 24, Miles College 3.
Sept. 14: Samford 12, Alabama State 7.
Sept. 28: Alabama State 26, Bethune-Cookman 21.
Oct. 5: Florida A&M 28, Alabama State 13.
Oct. 12: Alabama State 54, Mississippi Valley State 17.
Oct. 26: Alabama State 27, Alabama A&M 19.
Nov. 2: Alabama State 21, Alcorn State 17.
Nov. 9: Grambling State 24, Alabama State 23.
Nov. 16: at Jackson State
Nov. 23: vs. Prairie View A&M
Nov. 28: vs. Tuskegee
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
