The Southern University Jags are riding high after a huge win over the Texas Southern Tigers last week, which sent them to 2-0 in SWAC play on the season. It was not an easy victory for the team, but they managed to overcome a really rough first half to eventually come out on top.
“We went over and faced some adversity. But our guys were resilient and played through the adversity, and came together again, and we were able to get the win in overtime. I’m pleased and proud to see those young men come together and stay together, and play as the team that we are capable of showing and displaying.”
Southern University Head Coach Terrence Graves
One of the key takeaways from the game was the quarterback situation. Despite Czavian Teasett, the presumed starter when healthy, dressing for the game, Noah Bodden still started last week’s game against Texas Southern. In the 2nd quarter, Teasett entered the game briefly and led the offense on three drives that all ended with turnovers before Bodden took back over and finished the game. After six games, Southern has yet to have a single quarterback play any one entire game, and the starting quarterback situation continues to get less clear by the week.
“We’re going to do what we need to do to give ourselves the best chance to win. If we’ve got to play with two, we’re going to play with two. If we’ve got to play with three, we’re going to play with three. In a perfect world, you’d want to play with one, but the more the merrier, if it helps us get to the ultimate end goal, we’ll do what we need to do. Hats off to those guys, because those guys work every single day to prepare to have that opportunity, so that shows the work and maturity in the room.”
Southern University Head Coach Terrence Graves
Regardless of who starts at quarterback next week, the Jags won last week because of the play of Noah Bodden. After being benched, he came back out in the 2nd half and was able to move the offense effectively, leading the drives that provided Southern with all of their points for the game, including the important game-tying TD pass to Quay Davis in the final seconds of regulation.
“Hats off to him. A lot of times, the quarterback is either the hero or the goat. A lot of times, they get the criticism, right wrong or indifferent, and that’s what that position calls for. And to see that guy starting, and then getting benched, and then coming back and leading the team to victory means a lot to me.”
Bodden found himself leaving the game in the first place partially because of a slow start from the offense, which has become the norm for this Jags team. Southern only has 6 combined points over their first 6 games of the season. One important key for the team to continue their SWAC success will be their ability to get off to faster starts on offense.
“We just got to execute better. We have to make sure we do better at 3rd down conversions. Coach Frederick says it all the time – first downs equal touchdowns. We got to make sure we convert and execute better. It’s just execution – once we get that and iron that out, we’ll be fine.”
Southern University Head Coach Terrence Graves
Southern now moves on to Alcorn St., a battle of the last two undefeated teams in conference play within the SWAC west. On top of that, it’s also homecoming for the Jags, a crowd that sounds like it will be close to a sell out. The situation surrounding this game makes it a huge game with a lot of hype and stakes behind it.
“To go 3-0, and to be the only undefeated team on our side, helps us to accomplish the goals we want to accomplish. We’re going to take it one game at a time. This is our next opponent. We have to be ready to play, we have to execute and do what we need to do to come out with the win. If we do that, then it bodes well for us to be able to win.”
Southern University Head Coach Terrence Graves
This is the 3rd straight week that Southern plays a team that is known for being able to run the ball. For the Alcorn St. Braves in particular, they have a two-headed monster in the backfield that are both huge threats to pop off a big play with their legs. They have the two leading rushers in the entire SWAC in that backfield – sophomore RB Jacorian Sewell and freshman QB Xzavier Vaughn. Vaughn is the current SWAC leader in rushing as a quarterback, which is incredibly impressive and threatening to the Southern defense. For the third straight week, this will be a key matchup to watch, as Southern believes in their ability to stop the run, and they will get another big test to see how they hold up.
“You got to make sure you have a lot of people around the football, because he can take it to the house. He hit Grambling for a big one last week, so we have to make sure we have guys in the right gaps who can wrap up and tackle. He does have the speed, and he can go, so he is somebody that we have to pay attention to.”
Southern University Head Coach Terrence Graves
The game is homecoming at 6:00 P.M. on Saturday night. Check out the interviews of Head Coach Terrence Graves, as well as QB Noah Bodden, RB CJ Russell, S Herman Brister III, and LB Vincent Paige Jr here!
