Sept. 30, 2007
Final Stats
Southern University's Byrant Lee passed for 242 yards and
a touchdown, and rushed for one score as Southern overcame scorching heat and
a tough Alabama State defense in route to a 21-2 win in the 34th Gulf Coast
Classic in Mobile, AL.
Fans attending the game in Ladd-Peebles Stadium were expecting
offensive fireworks, but got a game filled with hardhitting defenses and turnovers.
Between the teams, there were 14 punts and eight turnovers, with the Jags committing
five of the eight turnovers. But Southern had enough big plays in tis arsenal
to come away with the victory.
Once agan the SU "Dog Day D" came up big, keeping
their second opponent of the season out of the endzone. SU held Alabama State
running back Jay Peck, a first-team All-SWAC selection last season who leads
the conference in rushing, to 35 yards on 16 carries. They also held Alabama
State quarterbacks Alex Engram and Chris Mitchell to a combined 8-33for only
84 yards and two interceptions.
Alabama State's only points came one play after SU's
goal-line stand, with linebacker Leland Jones tackling Coates in the end zone
with 8:37 left in the third quarter.
Running back Darren Coates, named the game's offensive
MVP, led the SU offensive unit rushing for 67 yards on 13 carries and had a
career-best 119 receiving yards on five catches. Briant Threat rushed for 52
yards and a score, while Gerard Landry had four catches for 54 yards and a score.
Southern's Bryant Lee, who had not thrown an interception
in 183 consecutive attempts, tossed three picks during a 16-29, 242 yard performance.
Defensively for Southern, Glenn Bell finished with 10 tackles
(seven solo) along with a pass breakup and a tackle for loss, while being named
the game's defensive MVP. Jarmaul George had six tackles and an interception.
Brian Lewis had five tackles and Gary Chapman finished with five tackles, one
tackle for a loss, one sack, one interception, five quarterback hurries and
one pass deflection.
For ASU, Rechard Johnson tallied 10 tackles, forced a fumble,
recovered a fumble and broke up a pass, while Leland Jones added seven tackles
(including two for loss), a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
Southern will celebrate Homecoming 2007 this Saturday when
the Jaguars host the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at 5:30 pm in AW Mumford Stadium
on the Southern campus.
