Game 4
Jackson State Tigers (1-2) vs. Kentucky State Thoroughbreds (1-1)

Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 • 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. CDT • Lucas Oil Stadium • 70,000 capacity/FieldTurf, Indianapolis, Ind.

Media Information

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

Television
N/A
 
JACKSON, Miss. – The Jackson State football team comes off a bye week and travels to Indianapolis for the Circle City Classic versus Kentucky State. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. EDT kickoff (2 p.m. CDT) from Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts.
 
38 Years in the Making
 
Jackson State and Kentucky State do have a history of playing each other and it's been 38 years since the two teams have met on the gridiron. The last game in the series was Saturday, November 14, 1981 and JSU rolled to a 35-0 win over KSU from Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Tigers lead the overall series 7-3 and have outscored the Thoroughbreds 277-102. Nine of the 10 games in the series were played between 1954 and 1973.
 
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 with 338 yards coming via the ground game. The 49 points scored was the most by JSU in the Southern Heritage Classic.
 
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.
 
The running backs dominated Tennessee State. Johnson rushed for a game-high 141 yards and one touchdown and was named Southern Heritage Classic MVP and earned College Sports Madness SWAC Offensive Player of the Week. Freshman Tyson Alexander rushed for 87 yards and one touchdown and was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week and Josh Littles, who is also battling for carries, showcased his ability and opened the SHC with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and was named SWAC Specialist of the Week.