JACKSON, Miss. — In a decisive victory, the Jackson State Tigers triumphed over Southern with a score of 41-13 in the SWAC Championship, showcasing a powerful performance in the second half on Saturday. Irv Mulligan, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, contributed significantly with 116 rushing yards, helping push the Tigers to a commanding win and securing their fourth conference title.
With this victory, Jackson State, finishing the season with an impressive 11-2 record, has earned a spot in the Celebration Bowl, where they will face off against the MEAC champion South Carolina State on December 14 in Atlanta.
The contest started with Southern taking an early lead, 10-3, late in the second quarter. However, Jackson State turned the momentum just ahead of halftime with a 2-yard touchdown run by Emari Matthews. This momentum was solidified when Mulligan scored a 1-yard touchdown to open the third quarter, bringing the score to 17-10 in favor of the Tigers.
Following that, the Tigers further extended their lead with a 45-yard field goal from Gerardo Baeza and a 23-yard touchdown run by Zy McDonald, bringing the score to 27-10 by the end of the third quarter.
In the final minutes, Jackson State solidified their championship win by adding two more touchdowns, effectively sealing the game. Southern managed to get on the board with a 28-yard field goal from Joshua Griffin in the fourth quarter, breaking Jackson State’s six-game streak where they had not permitted any points in the final period. Notably, Southern became only the third team since October 5 to score in the second half against Jackson State.
Alongside Mulligan’s notable performance, McDonald added 95 rushing yards, and the Tigers collectively amassed a total of 275 rushing yards and recorded four touchdowns on the ground. In addition to his rushing prowess, McDonald also threw for 75 yards, completing 6 of 11 passes, although he did have one interception.
For Southern, quarterback Czavian Teasett recorded 127 yards through the air while also rushing for an additional 56 yards.
