Game 8
 
Jackson State at Prairie View A&M
 
Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019 • 6:30 p.m. CDT • Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field
Prairie View, Texas
 
Media Information

Television

ESPNU
Tiffany Greene (Play-by-Play)
Jay Walker (Analysis)
 
Radio

WHLH 95.5 Hallelujah FM
Rob Jay (Play-by-Play)
Darrell Asberry (Analysis)
 
 
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Fresh off a thrilling 31-28 overtime win over Mississippi Valley State, the Tigers look forward to a SWAC bout at Prairie View A&M, which is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The match-up is also scheduled to be broadcast on ESPNU in front of a national audience.
 
Ponder Gets the Start
 
Junior quarterback Derrick Ponder came on in relief at Mississippi Valley State and led the Tigers back from a 21-0 first-half deficit. The Bells, Texas native passed for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Ponder will start at PVAMU.

Hampton, Salazar and Clarke Earn SWAC Player of the Week Accolades

Sophomore linebacker Keonte Hampton, senior specialist Adrian Salazar and freshman running back Kymani Clarke each earned SWAC Player of the Week for their performances in Jackson State's thrilling 31-28 overtime time at Mississippi Valley State.
 
 
Defensive
Jackson State
Keonte Hampton (6-2, 225, So., LB, West Point, Miss.)
Hampton posted an impressive performance during the Tigers comeback win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday in Itta Bena, Miss. He tallied 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble as JSU defeated MVSU by a score of 31-28 in overtime.
 
 
Specialist
Jackson State
Adrian Salazar (6-0, 170, Sr., K, Charlotte, NC)
Salazar was a clutch performer for the Jackson State Tigers in their thrilling 31-28 comeback win over in-state rival Mississippi Valley State on Saturday in Itta Bena, Miss. He converted a game-winning 34-yard field goal in OT to seal the win for the Tigers.
 
 
Newcomer
Jackson State
Kymani Clarke (5-10, 190, Fr., RB, Ocala, Fla.)
Clarke had a breakout performance on Saturday during the Tigers comeback win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. He carried the ball for a game high 174 yards including a key touchdown rush with 1:21 remaining in regulation to give the Tigers their first lead of the contest.
 
Hampton Quarterback of the Defense
 
Only a sophomore, linebacker Keonte Hampton is the leader of the Tigers' defensive unit. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder leads the conference with 71 tackles. Hampton has also recorded 47 solo stops, 10.1 stops per game, which also ranks first in the conference.
 
Newman Continues to Produce
 
Junior wide receiver Warren Newman has turned into a focal point of the Tigers' offense. A threat to score whenever he touches the ball, the New Orleans native has turned in a team-high 31 receptions for 273 yards and four touchdowns. The 5-foot-8, 170-pounder also has three rush attempts for 29 yards and a punt return for a touchdown.
 
Offense Turns the Corner
 
When John Hendrick was introduced as head coach last November, he stated that if the Tigers were to compete for SWAC championships, the offense would need to improve. After reshaping the offensive staff and installing a new offensive scheme, the offense is dramatically improved.
 
In JSU's thrilling 49-44 win over Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic, the offense produced 470 yards of offense with 338 yards coming via the ground game.
 
Despite the setback versus Bethune-Cookman, JSU totaled 506 yards in total offense. That was the most since Oct. 24, 2015 when JSU defeated UAPB 37-3 and tallied 469 yards of offense. The last time the Tigers produced 500 yards of total offense was October 26, 2013 when JSU defeated Prairie View A&M 51-38.
 
Running Back Depth
 
JSU has a great problem: a stable of quality running backs. Jordan Johnson, Keshawn Harper, Kymani Clarke and Tyson Alexander have all shown the ability to step in and produce. The Tigers will be without Alexander on Saturday due to injury and Johnson returns to the running back rotation after sitting last week out. Clarke will start and see an uptick in play.
 
Scouting Prairie View A&M
 
The Panthers enter with a 3-4 overall record and 2-2 mark in SWAC play. PVAMU has wins over Texas Southern, Grambling State and Virginia-Lynchburg.
 
PVAMU sports the top-ranked offense in the conference. The Panthers average 36.7 points per game and have tallied 257 points.
 
Dawonya Tucker leads the SWAC with 757 yards rushing and 7.1 yards per carry. Tucker has also tallied seven touchdowns.
 
Jalen Morten is second in the SWAC with 1648 passing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Morten throws for an average of 235.4 passing yards per game.
 
On defense, PVAMU allows an average of 30.6 points per game, which ranks seventh in the SWAC.
 
Tre'Shaud Smith leads the Panthers with 54 total tackles.