Jackson State bounced back second quarter play in the Celebration Bowl, which woke up Mercedes-Benz Stadium and dealt South Carolina State an early knockout blow.
Already leading 7-0 after a 19-play, 9-minute touchdown drive that lasted two quarters, the Tigers rallied on what they hoped would be a big-play opportunity downfield.
With 6:05 left in the half, JSU quarterback Jacobian Morgan hit Irv Mulligan for a 67-yard gain before throwing a deep pass to an open Isaiah Spencer after opening the field. Endzone just shy of the solution.
On the replay, Spencer executed a slant-and-go route that looped around SCSU safety Diego Addison to create a 5-yard cushion for Spencer Morgan’s pass.
Tigers he would score A 1-yard TD run by Mulligan with 5:39 left in the second quarter gave JSU a 14-0 lead one play later.
“We were pretty solid in that game,” JSU coach TC Taylor said. “Anytime we’re faced with security, we’ll use it. I think we scored five times.”
While JSU didn’t score on the Morgan-to-Spencer tie, both coaches acknowledged that type of play will be called at some point.
“I just knew coach (Chance) Berry had to be ready for this game because it’s been an explosive game for us six times this year,” Taylor said. “Woke up the stadium.”
Sensing that South Carolina State was still within striking distance of the score, Berry expected Jackson State to try a double-action passing pattern.
“I think the play that really got them going was when they took a shot and hit the post in the middle of the pitch because they weren’t moving the ball at the time,” he said. “When they hit us with a double action and went up to 14, that took the wind out of our sails a little bit.”
