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GRAMBLING, La. – The celebration began with about 38 seconds remaining as the Jackson State players – waving towels and dancing – greeted their fans who made the two-hour drive west on Interstate 20.
They had deserved the moment.
Linebacker Keonte Hampton recovered a fumble at Jackson State 1 with 1:04 to preserve a 33-28 victory over Grambling on Saturday afternoon at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
Jackson State ended Grambling’s 16-game winning streak at home – the second longest in the FCS – and informed the rest of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) that it wasn’t the same old Jackson State .
The Tigers had lost eight of their last nine games to Grambling, including five in a row. In those games, Grambling had beaten Jackson State 214-118. Each of his last four wins had been at least 15 points.
At the end of the game, quarterback Jalon Jones sprinted towards first-year coach Deion Sanders, who had hugged his assistants and handed the ball to him.
Rest assured that the leather trophy of Sanders’ first SWAC victory will eventually end up in a prime spot among the Hall of Fame cornerback’s prized possessions.
So, has Jackson State warned the rest of the SWAC?
“I don’t know if I would say that,” Sanders said cheerfully after the game, “but they know we’re here. They know we are there.
Jackson State, 4-8 last season, entered the season 23-44 since 2014. Now the Tigers are 2-0.
They beat Grambling (0-1) for the first time since 2012 because they displayed the mental and physical toughness Sanders has preached since arriving on campus on December 1.
Every t-shirt, sweatshirt, beanie and baseball cap that players and coaches wear is adorned with the words “I BELIEVE”. Before the team can win, Sanders said, players have to believe it first.
He spent much of the last week telling his team that most players had nothing to do with a losing streak against Grambling.
The only way to believe they can win is to prepare and train to win. That, he said, will position them to win.
Then it is about the players who play at the time of winning.
Jackson State, who lost 27-14 at halftime, took a 33-28 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard catch by Warren Newman with 12:35 to go.
After a defensive save, they made it to Grambling 2. A touchdown would have essentially ended the game, but running back Kymani Clarke fumbled in the end zone.
Grambling recovered and quickly settled in Jackson State 2.
A first descent produced no gain. On the second try, linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr. crashed hard on the right side, forcing a fumble that Hampton recovered.
Miller finished with a game-high 17 tackles, while Hampton added 15 tackles.
“You start to see what guys are made of. You see what’s inside of them, “Sanders said of the adversity of the game.” They don’t want to disappoint me, but I tell them I believe in you, but you have to. believe you can do it. I am ready to bet on all of you.
Jackson State finished with 473 yards, his best offensive outing since 2013. Tyson Alexander finished with a career-high 184 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown.
Jones had 180 yards and three touchdowns.
The Jackson State squad in the fall is expected to be significantly better than this squad and that should concern the rest of SWAC.
After all, the Tigers are going to add the top-rated recruiting class in the FCS, led by Sanders’ son Shedeur, one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country last year.
In addition, they should add several quality players in the transfer portal.
“The best is yet to come. That’s why I’m so excited. You all know what we’ve got. We just can’t use it right now,” Sanders said. “It’s like seeing all of them. ingredients in Grandma’s kitchen, but knowing you can’t taste the meal until Thanksgiving. ”
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