Nov. 15, 2008

Final Stats

JACKSON, Miss. - The Jackson State Tigers football team clinched its second consecutive Southwestern Conference Eastern Division title by beating the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs 37-21 Saturday evening at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Tigers, who with the win, will represent the SWAC Eastern Division in the 2008 conference Championship game in Birmingham, AL on Dec. 13.

A muffed punt return set up JSU's first score in the first quarter. At the 10:00 mark the Tigers Luther Edwards scored on an 18 yard run. Eric Perri's extra point kick gave JSU an early 7-0 lead.

The Bulldogs responded when Alfred Williams scored on a nine-yard run at the 4:14 mark. Jeremy Licea's kick tied the game at 7-7. At the 3:08 mark in the first Marcel Frost and Trae Rutland connected for a 59-yard touchdown strike to cap a three play 59-yard drive to make the score 14-7.

The Bulldogs again tied the game on a 33-yard Kevin Atkins to Rashad Johnson touchdown pass at the 19 second mark in the first.

At the 7:37 mark in the second quarter AAMU took its first lead of the day when Atkins connected with Nate Baxter for an 11-yard touchdown pass. Licea's kick made the score 21-14. With 2:43 remaining in the first half JSU pulled to within a point when Edwards scored on a five-yard run. Perri's point after kick was blocked.

The Tigers dominated the second half, scoring 17 points and keeping the Bulldogs out of scoring range. JSU put up the only score in the third quarter at the 8:44 mark when Sam Washington forced an AAMU fumble and Marcus Benard scored from 12 yards out on the recovery, making the score 27-21.

Darius Bolela put the Tigers ahead by 13 points when he scored on a two-yard run at the 12:02 mark in the fourth. Perri put the game out of reach when he connected on a 40-yard field goal with 4:32 remaining in the game.

With the win JSU improves to a 6-4 overall record and a 5-1 SWAC mark. AAMU falls to 4-7, 3-3.

The Tigers finished the game with 290 yards and AAMU had 244. Bolela finished with a game high 147-yards and a TD on 11 carries. Edwards followed with 79-yards and two TDs. Rutland completed three of his nine attempts for 30-yards and a TD. Frost led JSU receivers with two catches for 35-yards and a TD.

Anthony Green led AAMU's rushing attack with 114-yards. Atkins completed nine of 20 pass attempts for 106-yards and two TDs. Thomas Harris caught a game high four passes for 51 yards.

Defensively, JSU's Marcus Benard finished with a game high 14 tackles, five tackles for loss and three and a half sacks. Marcellus Speaks followed with 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Afu Okosun led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles.

JSU will return to action Saturday, Nov. 22 to face Alcorn State in the Capital City Classic at Memorial Stadium.