JACKSON, Miss. – Junior running back Jordan Johnson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 88 yards as Alabama A&M narrowly defeated Jackson State 21-16 Saturday afternoon at the 11th Annual W.C. Gorden Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

JSU (1-2, 0-1 SWAC) jumped out to a 16-0 second-quarter lead. Johnson scored his first touchdown of the contest on a four-yard plunge at 5:38 in the first quarter. With 36 seconds remaining in the opening quarter, Christian Jacquemin converted a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

Johnson scored his second touchdown of the night at 14:05 in the second quarter, this time a seven-yard scamper.

Derrick Ponder went 8-for-19, 91 yards with an interception. Jarrad Hayes replaced Ponder in the second half and finished 6-for-11 for 32 yards.

As an offense, JSU totaled 242 yards of total offense.

Quedarrion Barnett tallied a game-high 10.5 tackles, while Malik Hamner added nine tackles, including a pair that went for a loss.

Alexander Shaw came away with a circus-type interception late in the second half.

The Tigers return to action next Saturday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.