This day could not have gone any better for the Jags.
Southern University clinched the SWAC West on senior day, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 31-9 in a game best summed up by its final (notable) play. With less than 2 minutes left and already losing by two scores, UAPB backup QB DJ Stevenson drops back to pass but loses the ball. The ball is then picked up by the ultimate big man, 5’9″ 350 pound senior DL Willie Miles, who breaks a tackle on his way to Southern’s first defensive touchdown of the season. It was the loudest crowd reaction of the entire season, a cacaphony of cheers, an explosion right as Miles crossed the goal line. It was the perfect ending to a perfect game for Southern.
Southern had their most complete game of the season – it wasn’t perfect, and there is plenty to improve upon, but it’s the best Southern has looked all year. UAPB actually had a great start to this game, leading two successful drives deep into Southern territory as the Jags offense couldn’t get anything going in the first quarter. However, the SWAC-leading Jags defense bowed up in the redzone and forced two field goals, giving UAPB a 6-0 lead early in the game.
After that slow start, however, it was all Jags for basically the rest of the game. After finishing last week’s game, freshman QB Jalen Woods got the start today and started pretty slowly. He had an interception that led to one of the field goals, but after that he was awesome, moving the offense down the field in drive after drive. Woods played the entire game for the Jags (only the 2nd time this season a QB has done that), giving the team hope for continuity at the QB position after last week made the situation so murky. With him under center, the 3-headed monster at RB of Kendric Rhymes, Kobe Dillon, and CJ Russell truly flexed their muscles, each rushing for over 60 yards, with both Rhymes and Dillon scoring TDs in the first half.
The Jags picked up right where they left off in the 2nd half, essentially putting the game out of reach with a short 3-minute sequence early in the 3rd quarter. After their defense forced a punt to start the half, the Jags scored off a sensational touchdown pass from Woods to Cam Jefferson. Then, just a couple of plays later, the Jags defense forced a fumble to give the offense a short field which eventually lead to a quick Joshua Griffin Field Goal. That extended Southern’s lead to 24-6 in the 3rd quarter, and 18 point lead that felt like a 30 point lead given how the Jags defense was performing. The rest of the game was spent in cruise control, as Southern felt confident the UAPB offense couldn’t catch up and simply ran the clock out with few remaining highlights outside of Willie Miles’ incredible play.
It’s a huge win for a Southern team that just had a different level of emotion on the field in this game than in the past. Whether it was senior day, or the chance to clinch the division with a win, they were playing with something different. They do clinch the SWAC West the same day that Jackson St clinches the SWAC East, meaning we have a date set up in 3 weeks for the SWAC Championship game, a rematch of the BoomBox Classic back in September. Southern moves to 7-4 on the season overall, with a bye week upcoming before the annual Bayou Classic to close out the regular season against Grambling. UAPB falls to 3-8 on the season, and they will finish their season next week against Texas Southern.
Check out our interviews of Head Coach Terrence Graves, DL Willie Miles, RB Kendric Rhymes, DL Davin Cotton, and QB Jalen Woods!
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