ATLANTA — In an impressive display of skill, Jacobian Morgan connected twice with Joanes Fortilien for touchdowns, while Irv Mulligan contributed with two short touchdown runs, leading Jackson State to a 28-7 victory over South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl, which is recognized as the national championship for HBCUs.
The Tigers, champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, showcased their dominance with a total of 383 yards compared to the Bulldogs from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, who managed only 211 yards. Jackson State’s defense was particularly formidable, giving up just 59 yards through the first three quarters. This win marked the Tigers’ tenth consecutive victory and their first title in the Celebration Bowl after reaching the finals three times in four years.
Morgan completed 15 of 21 passes for 233 yards, though he did throw one interception during the game. Isaiah Spencer was a standout on the receiving end, accumulating 123 yards. Meanwhile, South Carolina State’s Eric Phoenix, who did not play in the third quarter, ended the game with 13 completions out of 20 attempts for 167 yards, earning the title of the program’s season passing leader with a total of 2,628 yards. Phoenix also contributed the Bulldogs’ sole touchdown with a run.
The Tigers established a 14-0 lead by halftime. Morgan’s first touchdown throw was a 4-yard pass to Fortilien as part of a nearly 10-minute scoring drive. Their second touchdown followed a turnover on downs from the Bulldogs at the JSU 32-yard line. Morgan then hit Spencer for a long 67-yard completion down to the 1-yard line, leading to a short touchdown from Mulligan on the next play.
After the two teams went scoreless through the third quarter, a 42-yard catch by Spencer reignited a drive for the Tigers, which continued due to an offsides penalty on a field goal attempt. Mulligan finished off the drive with another 2-yard touchdown run.
Despite a challenging game, Phoenix orchestrated an 80-yard scoring drive for the Bulldogs, highlighted by a 64-yard connection with Nigel Johnson, before scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run, marking South Carolina State’s only points with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Additionally, Gerardo Baeza failed to convert a 35-yard field goal for the Tigers, but they regained possession shortly after thanks to Shamar Hawkins’ interception. Capitalizing on this turnover, Morgan tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Fortilien, extending their lead to 21 points.
