Sept. 20, 2009
Final Stats
Southern University's preseason SWAC offensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton Award Candidate, senior quarterback Brian Threat's 9-yard touchdown run with 3:47 to play that lifted the Southern Jaguars to a 21-17 win over Tennessee State on Saturday night at AW Mumford Stadium.
After the teams initially could get nothing going and went back and forth with punts, Tennessee State would get on the board first, late in the first quarter, as John Lopez would hit on a 23 yard field goal to cap a 12 play 47 yard drive.
The second quarter was much like the first with neither team able to sustain a drive and missed opportunities were left on the field.
But the second quarter also saw the birthing of the new Dog Day Defense as the Jags bowed up and played lights out, keeping the Tigers in check.
Late in the quarter, All-American wide receiver, Juamorris Stewart would find the endzone on a short 2 yard fade pass in the back corner of the endzone from Lee, capping a nine play drive, and giving the Jags a 7-3 lead going into the half.
Southern would march down the field in its first possession of the second half that ended with Juamorris Stewart hauling in his second touchdown of the night - a 15 yard scoring strike from Bryant Lee, giving SU a 14-3 advantage.
But Tennessee State would respond in the second half with two straight touchdowns to reclaim the lead 17-14.
Terrance Wright scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter to pull Tennessee State to within 14-10. The Tigers took the lead early in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard pass from Calvin McNairl to Joseph Hills.
Threat was the workhorse for Southern (2-1), handling 22 of the Jaguars' 37 carries for 44 yards, but he also added 35 yards on short catches. His 31-yard gain on a simple screen pass was the first play of Southern's game-winning drive.
One sour note, the SU special teams continued with miscues, as the Jaguars muffed three punts.
Tennessee State's Calvin McNairl completed only 9-of-25 passes for 86 yards with two interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 86 yards.
Offensively for Southern, Bryant Lee, who was 23-of-32 for 250 yards, helped Southern amass 357 yards of offense on the night.Juamorris Stewart caught 10 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns.He moved into second place on SU's all-time receiving yards list with 1,975 career yards.Gary Hollimon, who had one carry on the night, helped seal the game for the Jags with a key 50 yard run in the final minute of play as SU was milking the clock.Warren Matthews also caught four passes for 69 yards.
Defensively for the Jags, freshman Allan Baugh and Corey Ray each added six tackles. Jason House had five tackles and an interception.Freshman Pierre Warford also had his first career interception on the final play of the game.
Southern will open up SWAC play next week, as the host the Braves of Alcorn State University at 6:00 pm in AW Mumford Stadium.
