MONTGOMERY, AL -- For the first time in Southern University 102 year football history, the Jaguars played their first ever football contest in the month of February to kick off the 2021 spring football season. It has been 447 days since SU last played a football game. The Jaguars (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) racked up 274 yards of total offense, but it was the defense who really stepped up against Alabama State (0-1, 0-1 SWAC) to seal the win for SU 24-21 Friday Night at ASU Stadium. 

Quarterback Ladarius Skelton threw for a 135 yards on 10-for-25 passing and one touchdown and added 72 yards on the ground rushing for a touchdown. Devon Benn added 40 yards on 16 carries. Gregory Perkins (1 catch for 59 yards, one touchdown) and Brandon Hinton (5 catches for 47 yards) were the top targets for the Jaguars. Jordan Lewis led the SU defense with 11 tackles (5 tfl and 4 sacks) and Tyevanshay Farmer finished with 8 tackles (1 tfl). Cesar Barajas had 4 punts for 183 yards (avg. 45.8), was 3-3 on extra points on 1-1 on field goals (41 yards).
 
Alabama State quarterback Ryan Nettles threw for 149 yards and two scores on 16-for-27 passing. Michael Jefferson and Jahod Booker led the Hornets with five catches for 47 and 43 yards. Ezra Gray led the ASU ground attack with 73 yards on 14 carries.

On the third play of the game, defensive end Jordan Lewis blew up the backfield and sacked Ryan Nettles six yards behind the line of scrimmage forcing a fumble. SU Malik Ellis recovered the ball and returned it to ASU 2 yard line. 

The Jaguars used all four downs but were unable to get in the end zone turning th ball over on downs on the ASU 3-yard line. On 3rd down and 10 Nettles dropped back to pass and was intercepted by senior Chase Foster who returned it 14 yards for a touchdown. Giving SU the 7-0 lead.

ASU scored right before halftime and SU went into the locker room tied 7-all.

To open the third quarter Kendric Jones returned the kickoff 49 yards to the ASU 45 yard line. After picking up three first downs, SU was able to punch it into the end zone when Skelton rushed 8 yards for a touchdown extending SU lead 14-7. The Hornets would score the next 14 points taking a 21-14 lead.

SU used a three play drive to begin the fourth quarter with two big plays. First Jones ran for 14 yards to the SU 41 yard line. Skelton capped the drive on the next play with a 59-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Perkins on the left side of the field as he rushed into the end zone tying the game 21-all. The Jaguars defense was able to force ASU into a three and out. Controversy struck on the next possession as Skelton found Marquis McClain in the back of the end zone on the right side for a 24 yard touchdown where it looked liked he got a foot down but after the replay officials reviewed the pay, the call was overturned. Southern settled for what eventually would be the game winning 41-yard field goal by Cesar Barajas. As Southern took the lead 24-21. 

The two teams traded punts before Southern moved closer. Barajas connected on a 46 yard punt when ASU Hixon fumbled on the 7 yard line and Shamar Zaragoza recovered for the Jaguars. Looking to capitalize and extend the lead with 3:04 left in the regulation, Skelton rushed for a 7-yard touchdown but was called back because of holding penalty. Moving SU back to the 17 yard line and no chance to get a first down. On fourth and goal from the 16, the Jaguars lined up to attempt a field goal to push the lead but a bad snap caused a fumble in which SU had to fall on it but it gave the ball back to the Hornets with 2:26 left on the clock. 

Southern defense was tasked with another challenge as Alabama State was out of timeouts and was trying to move the ball down the field. The Hornets completed a five yard pass before Lewis recorded his last sack on the night with 2:17 left to play. ASU attempted a last-second 44-yard field goal but missed wide left sealing the victory for SU. 

UP NEXT
Southern will host it's only home game of the Spring 2021 season when University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff visits A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday, March 6. Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm, the game will be televised on ESPN3. 

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