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Nov. 17, 2007 JACKSON, Miss. - In the final two games of the regular season all the Jackson State football team had to do was win one game and the Tigers would make it to their first Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game since 1999. Last week the Tigers meet a road block, losing 30-27 to Prairie View A&M. However in the 15th Annual Capital City Classic the Tigers would not be denied, as they defeated in-state rival Alcorn State 31-19. JSU quarterback Jimmy Oliver was named the Offensive Player of the Game. He finished with 245 passing yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another 111 yards. Alcorn's Antonio Cooper was named the Defensive Player of the Game, as he finished with 12 tackles. Alcorn State got on the scoreboard first as Tony Hobson connected with Emman Arceneaux for a 29 yard touchdown strike at the 12:52 mark in the first quarter. Lavarus Giles capped a 12-play 83-yard drive with a one yard run at the 2:38 mark. Eric Perri's extra point kick gave JSU its first lead of the game (7-6). The Tigers opened the second quarter with a 19-yard Perri field goal to increase the lead to 10-6. JSU added two more scores in the third. Oliver connected with Jaymar Johnson for a 35-yard touchdown pass and Giles scored his second touchdown of the day on an 82-yard run. The Tigers held a 24-6 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Alcorn State did not go down without a fight. Hobson connected with Nate Hughes for a 19-yard touchdown strike to cut JSU's lead to 212 with 10:00 remaining in the game. JSU put the game out of reach at the 6:10 mark when Jimmy Oliver connected with Terrance Jones for a 24 yard strike to make the score 31-12. Hughes caught his second touchdown pass from Hobson with 3:19 remaining in the game.
Lavarus Giles finished with a game high 146 rushing yards and two TDs. Jaymar Johnson caught six passes for 74 yards and a TD. Terrance Jones caught four passes for 90 yards and a TD. Marcellus Speaks led JSU's defensive effort with eight tackles and a sack. Marcus Jamison followed with seven tackles. Marcus Benard recorded three tackles and two sacks. Defensive lineman Dennis Coit got the only interception of the game. Joshua Brumfield led Alcorn State with 39 rushing yards. Hobson passed for 340 yards and three TDs. Emman Arceneaux caught seven passes for 119 yards and Nate Hughes made six receptions for 101 and two TDs. Antonio Cooper recorded a game high 12 tackles and Lester Mosely added 10. Jackson State will face Grambling State in the SWAC championship game on December 15 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. |
