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Nov. 10, 2007 PRAIRIE VIEW, TX - The Jackson State University football team had an opportunity to lock in its bid to represent the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division in the conference championship game, but could not get past a confident Prairie View A&M team. The Tigers fell 30-27 to the Panthers Saturday evening at Blackshear Stadium. The Tigers opened the game with the first touchdown of the game when Jimmy Oliver connected with Jaymar Johnson for a 16-yard pass. The score capped a nine play, 64-yard drive, which gave JSU a 6-0 lead at the 9:59 mark in the first quarter. Eric Perri's extra point kick was blocked. On Prairie View's third drive of the game LaBrose Hedgemon intercepted a Jay Blueford pass at the Tiger one-yard line. On the ensuing possession Val Ford tackled Cody Hull for the safety, cutting JSU's lead to 6-2 at the 2:51 mark in the first. Both teams went on a scoring frenzy in the second quarter. At the 14:29 mark Oliver and Jaymar Johnson connected for a long touchdown pass. The duo hooked up on a 38-yard completion to take a 13-2 lead. This time Perri's point after kick was true. On Prairie View's next possession Spivey connected with Anthony Weeden for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Braddy Faggard's kick cut JSU's lead to 13-9. In the quarter Spivey would complete two more 20 plus yard touchdown passes. At 10:44 he connected with Townsend for a 35-yard completion and with Shaun Stephens for a 20 yard completions to make the sore at halftime 23-13. JSU got back into the game in the third behind the arm of Oliver. He hit Carlos Simpson for an 11-yard touchdown pass to cut the Panther lead to 23-20.
At the 14:36 mark in the fourth quarter Spivey threw his final touchdown of the game as he hit Joe Townsend for a 64-yard bomb. The extra point kick game Prairie View a 30-20 lead. However, the Tigers continued to fight. At the 5:15 mark Hull capped a five play, 57-yard drive with a four-yard run. Perri's kick cut the lead to 30-27. Unfortunately, the Tigers could not complete the come back. With a little over a minute remaining in the game Chris Adingupu intercepted a Trae Rutland pass to seal the victory. Oliver completed 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 296-yards and three TDs. Rutland went 3-for-6 for 55 yards. Erik Haw rushed for 27-yards on 12 attempts. Simpson finished with eight receptions for 66 yards and a TD. Terrance Jones had four receptions for 92-yards. Johnson also caught four passes for 86 yards and two TDs. Corey Clark led JSU with nine tackles and 2.5 sacks. Marcellus Speaks added eight tackles. Spivey had 180 yards and four TDs, as he completed eight of 19 attempts. Townsend caught two passes for 99 yards and two TDs. Zach East recorded a game high 19 tackles. Jackson State will return to action Nov. 17 to face Alcorn State for the Capital City Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. The Tigers must beat the Braves to play in the SWAC Championship game in Birmingham on Dec. 15. |
