By Kendrick Marshall
HBCU Sports
https://hbcusports.com/
Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor didn’t mince words after his team’s disappointing loss in the SWAC Championship Game on Saturday.
The Tigers fell 23-21 to Prairie View, ending a season just short of back-to-back trips to the Celebration Bowl to defend its Black National Championship.
“They outplayed us today,” Taylor admitted after the game. “I thought they were moving a little better than we were in the first half.”
Jackson State, which had been 24-2 over their last 26 home games played at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium and 3-0 in conference championship games, started slow.
The offense only gained 24 yards in the first quarter, which was uncharacteristic of a unit that averaged the second-most points in the conference and led the SWAC in rushing. The defense was surprisingly being gashed on the ground and through the air.
The Tigers were also hurt by the loss of quarterback JaCobian Morgan, who injured his left foot after scoring a 29-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. Shortly after the score, he was examined in the blue medical tent and then later helped to the locker room for further treatment before being ruled out of the game.
Freshman backup Jared Lockhart went 6 of 9 with one touchdown and one interception in relief.
Taylor praised his defense for keeping the game within reach by forcing three turnovers, including one on the goal line of quarterback Cameron Peters, but pinpointed one costly mistake that shifted momentum.
With Jackson State trailing 10-7, a Lockhart pass was intercepted by Panthers defensive back Darrell Starling. That turnover setup a 29-yard field goal by Diego Alfaro to extend the lead to 13-7 at halftime.
“I thought the defense was playing well in that first half,” he said. “The thing that hurt us was that turnover backed up right there that Jared threw. That’s on us as coaches—we’ve got to put him in a better situation. Should have just taken it to the half.”
The defeat was especially painful considering what was at stake. Jackson State had earned the right to host the championship, a testament to the team’s growth throughout the season. It wanted to repeat as SWAC and national champions.
But Prairie View made just enough plays on offense and stifled the powerful JSU offense to under 250 total yards for the game.
“It’s a tough loss,” Taylor said. “We worked so hard to get to this point this year, to host this SWAC Championship, and we didn’t get it done.”
Kendrick Marshall
Kendrick Marshall is an award-winning journalist and a graduate of Jackson State University.
