Game 3
Jackson State Tigers (0-2) vs. Tennessee State Tigers (1-1)

Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 • 6 pm CDT • Liberty Bowl • 61,000 capacity/FieldTurf
Memphis, Tenn.

Media Information

Radio
WHLH 95.5 Hallelujah FM
Rob Jay (Play-by-Play)
Darrell Asberry (Analysis)

Television
N/A

Jackson State Game Notes || Tennessee State Game Notes || Jackson State Depth Chart

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Jackson State football team takes its show to the 30th Southern Heritage Classic Saturday at 6 p.m. and will match-up with rival Tennessee State at the Liberty Bowl.
 
Battle of the Tigers
 
Jackson State and Tennessee State know each other very well. This will be the 53rd time the two programs will meet on the gridiron. Tennessee State leads the series at the SHC 17-9 and have won six in a row and 16 out of the past 20 games. Last year's game was canceled due to lightning.
 
Offense Shows Progress
 
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.
 
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: stable of quality running backs. Jordan Johnson, Keshawn Harper, Quitten Brown and Tyson Alexander have all shown the ability to step in and produce. In the game versus BCU, nearly half of the 506 yards came on the ground. Johnson rushed for a game-high 81 yards and scored a touchdown. Harper added 60 yards and Alexander rushed for 43 yards, including a long of 36 yards. The team finished with 233 rushing yards. Harper also rushed for a team-high 75 yards on only 10 carries against South Alabama. Alexander also scored his first-career touchdown with a 30-yard run down the USA sideline in the fourth quarter.
 
Defense a Staple
 
The past three years the JSU defense has been among the toughest in the country and feared within the SWAC. Led by All-American linebacker Keonte Hampton, the JSU defense shutout BCU in the first half and if you take away the four turnovers on offense, the game is tied at 15-15. The Tigers only allowed 277 yards and forced the Wildcats into 3-of-13 from 3rd down situations.
 
One JSU's goals versus South Alabama was to limit dual-threat quarterback Cephus Johnson and for the most part did.
 
Johnson, who accounted for over 250 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns at Nebraska, was held to 150 yards and turned the ball over twice.
 
JSU's defense forced three turnovers. CJ Holmes and Tenoa Alex each recorded an interception. Alex also forced a fumble and Jakaiszer Glass recovered it.
 
Hampton finished with a game-high 15 tackles. Tyler Rogers added 10 stops and Quedarrion Barnett made seven tackles.