The Jackson State University football team returns to the road this weekend to face Bethune-Cookman in a late afternoon contest Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla.
GAME INFORMATION:
Jackson State improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1996 with a 26-12 win at Alabama State. Heisman Trophy and Walter Payton Award candidate QB
Shedeur Sanders passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in earning Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season.
Sanders threw scoring passes in each of the final three quarters, led JSU on four 70+-yard scoring drives, and completed passes to 10 different receivers. On the season, Sanders is among FCS leaders in four categories: second in completions per game (30.2), third in total offense (357.6) and fourth in passing yards (1,726) and touchdown passes (17), and sixth in points responsible for (114).
A quartet of Tigers each had four catches: WR
Willie Gaines (4-65-1), RB Sy'Veon Wilkerson (4-48), RB J.D. Martin (4-36-1), and WR
Rico Powers (4-17). WR Kevin Coleman (3-39-1) scored his first career touchdown. Wilkerson led the team in rushing for the third time this season, gaining 19 carries for 72 yards.
The defense allowed only 177 total yards (39 rushing, 138 passing), and 13 first downs After allowing 71 yards in the first quarter, JSU yielded only 106 yards over the final three quarters. Alabama State did not gain a first down in the second quarter.
JSU ranks in the FCS Top 11 defensively in seven categories: 1st in total defense (185.0 ypg) and third down conversions (21,7%), 2nd in scoring defense (9.8 ppg), passing defense (111.4), and fewest first downs allowed (58), fifth in rushing defense (72.4 ypg), and 11th in total sacks (18).
Offensively, JSU ranks in the FCS Top 10 in four categories: third in passing offense (358.2 ypg), and fourth in scoring offense (43.2 ppg), total offense (515.0), and completion percentage (72.2%).
Third-year head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders has led Jackson State to 20 wins in 25 games. The Tigers have won 12 consecutive SWAC games dating to Spring 2021, and have won 14 straight games against league opponents. Jackson State is 16-2 in its last 18 games dating to Fall 2021.
Bethune-Cookman sandwiched its lone win to this point vs. Grambling at home (36-19) around losses at Miami (70-13) and vs. South Carolina St. (33-9) to open the season, and road losses to Alabama A&M (35- 27) and Tennessee State (41-17) in the last two weeks. B-CU has been physically on the road since before the AAMU game due to the effects of Hurricane Ian on the Daytona Beach campus.
Former JSU QB Jalon Jones has combined for 1,283 yards (1,007 passing, 277 rushing) and six combined touchdowns. RB Que'Shaun (59-327-3) leads the team in rushing. Dylaan Lee (16-202) leads the team in receiving. Amarie Jones (27 tackles, 1.0 sacks, 2.0 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR) leads the defense.
