Courtesy of Jackson State Athletics
The T.C. Taylor era of Jackson State football debuted in impressive fashion on national television as the Tigers beat South Carolina State 37-7 in the Cricket MEAC-SWAC Challenge Kickoff.
Following a three-and out by the defense, it took the offense only three plays to score. Irv Mulligan’s 46-yard touchdown run gave JSU a 7-0 lead just two-and-a-half minutes into the game.
In the second quarter, Jason Brown threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jency Riley, completing a seven-play, 92-yard drive to give Jackson State a 14-0 lead.
Late in the half, a 10-play, 74-yard drive ended with a Gerardo Baeza 31-yard field goal on the final play of the half to give JSU a 17-0 halftime lead.
JSU came out the locker room and marched to the end zone. Brown’s 21-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Stevens capped a 6-play, 63-yard drive to make the score 24-0 less than three minutes into the third quarter. Brown’s final scoring pass of the night, a 44-yard strike to Andre Hunt, put the game away at 31-0 midway through the period.
Field goals of 27 and 38 yards by Baeza in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, capped the scoring for JSU, which scored on six consecutive possessions before taking a knee to end the game.
The Tigers open Southwestern Athletic Conference play in the Orange Blossom Classic vs. Florida A&M Sunday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. CT in Miami Gardens, Fla. On ESPN.
