Skip To Main Content

Southern Clinches The West And Punches Their Ticket To The 2024 SWAC Championship Game

11/16/2024 9:39:00 PM

By: Willie D. Scott, Associate Director of Strategic Communications | Director of Media Relations

Box Score

BATON ROUGE, LA -- Southerns' offense clicked on all cylinders on Saturday afternoon as they dominate Arkansas Pine Bluff in a 31-9 lopsided victory to clinch the western division title and punch their ticket to the 2024 SWAC Championship game against Jackson State on December 7th.

"Saturday's performance was the game I've been looking for from his team all season," said Terrence Graves. "The kids are excited, and they should be. This is the time you get excited."

"It feels great. This is my second western division title since I've been here but this one is my favorite by far," said running back Kendric Rhymes. "It was fun to go out on senior day with my brothers."

The Jaguars found success on the ground by committee led by senior running back CJ Russell with 66 yards off 12 carries, senior running back Kendric Rhymes added another 65 yards including a 14 yard touchdown run and Kobe Dillon with 64 yards including a 6 yard TD run to pick up his first rushing touchdown this season. The Jaguars had the third different quarterback start this season in Jalen Woods where he finished the day 14-of-22 passing for 202 yards including the 71-yard TD toss to red-shirt freshman receiver Cam Jefferson. Woods tossed the ball around to eight different recievers on the day led by freshaman receiver Kobe Brown with three huge receptions.

The Dog Day Defense complimented the offense very well in the game where the Jaguars kept the Lions out the end zone on the day, led by safeties Herman Brister III and Horacio Johnson with five tackles each and a pass breakup each. Jamarius Brown, Rodney Johnson, Jr., Xavier Spencer, Vincent Paige Jr., and Willie Miles with four tackles each. Miles had a seven yard scoop and score to pick up his first touchdown of his career.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GAME

The Jaguars defense picked held the Golden Lions to 95 yards rushing
The Jaguars quarterback completed passes to eight different receivers on the day for 202 yards and a TD

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Southern picked up 21 first downs, while the Arkansas Pine Bluff finished with 18
Southern finished the night with 202 passing yards to UAPB 224 passing yards
SU finished the night with 218 rushing yards to the UAPB 95
Southern finished with only 202 receiving yards, while Arkansas Pine Bluff finished with 224
The Jaguars finished with a 53 yards in penalties, while the Wildcats finished with 5

FAREWELL TO THE SENIORS

Southern said farewell to 13 seniors on Saturday afternoon

#5 Derrick Williams
#6 Kendric Rhymes
#8 CJ Russell
#11 Darius Harry
#14 Josh Alexander
#19 Chandler Whitfield
#39 Braxston Blackwell
#45 Joshua Griffin
#55 Joshua Trask
#66 D'Andre Richard
#93 Willie Myles
#94 Davon Cotton
#97 Daviyon Johnson

UP NEXT
Southern will take a week off to get prepared to face-off with Grambling State University at the 51st Annual Bayou Classic on November 30th inside the Ceasars Superdome. Kickoff is slated for 1:05 PM live on NBC.

FOLLOW THE JAGUARS
For complete coverage of Southern University Athletics, please follow the Jaguars on social media at @SouthernUsports(Twitter), @SouthernUJaguars (Facebook), @southernusports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Southern University Athletics at www.gojagsports.com

#GoJags #SouthernIsTheStandard #ProwlOn #TheStandardRising #TeamNow

Print Friendly Version