HOUSTON, Texas | Jackson State opened Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play with a resounding 43-14 victory over Texas Southern at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night.

Jackson State (3-2, 1-0 SWAC) used 30 points combined in the third and fourth quarters to pull away for the win. The Tigers scored in just about every facet of the game using a blocked punt for a safety and a 79-yard kickoff return from Travis Terrell Jr. in the fourth quarter to seal the win after Texas Southern (1-3, 1-1 SWAC) pulled to within two touchdowns at 27-14.

Jacobian Morgan passed for 185 yards on 13-of-22 passing with a pair of touchdowns while running for 96 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. Irv Mulligan added 76 yards on the ground, while Joanes Fortilien hauled in four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Reid Pulliam led the defense with seven tackles, while the Tigers racked up seven tackles for loss.

Jackson State used an opening drive that consumed 5:24 and took 13 plays covering 86 yards, ending with a Gerardo Baeza 26-yard field goal for the 3-0 lead. They added to the lead in the with another long drive in the second quarter using 16 plays covering 69 yards that used 8:16 on the clock leading to another Baeza field goal.

The first touchdown came on a one-play drive following a turnover, resulting in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jacobian Morgan to Tyquan Henderson for a 13-0 lead with 5:16 to play in the first half. The Tigers defense stepped up in the first half on a late Texas Southern drive when a fourth and two was stuffed by Esaias Guthrie on a quarterback draw.

The lead continued to grow in the third when Morgan went around left end for a two-yard run to push the lead to 20-0 with 10:34 remaining in the quarter. The lead continued to grow on the arm of Morgan with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Joanes Fortilien, set up by a 44-yard pass from Morgan to Isaiah Spencer.

How It Happened 
1st Quarter (6:52) – Baeza 26-yard field goal, Jackson State 3-0.
2nd Quarter (9:28) – Baeza 38-yard field goal, Jackson State 6-0.
2nd Quarter (5:16) – Henderson 33-yard reception from Morgan (Baeza kick), Jackson State 13-0.
3rd Quarter (10:34) – Morgan went around left end for a 2-yard score (Baeza kick), Jackson State 20-0.
3rd Quarter (7:35) – Fortilien 16-yard reception from Morgan (Baeza kick), Jackson State 27-10.
4th Quarter (14:47) – Trent Leary 17-yard reception from Jordan Davis (Gustavo Romero kick), Jackson State 27-7.
4th Quarter (8:00) -  Davis 4-yard rush (Romero kick), Jackson State 27-14.
4th Quarter (7:05) – Morgan 72-yard rush (Baeza kick), Jackson State 34-14.  
4th Quarter (5:35) – Jeremy Ramirez blocks punt for safety, Jackson State 36-14.
4th Quarter (5:19) – Travis Terrell Jr. 79-yard kick return (Baeza kick), Jackson State 43-14.

Game Notes

• Guthrie recorded his second interception of the season in the second quarter, the fifth of the season for the Tigers.
• The second quarter touchdown by Henderson is the first for him in a Tiger uniform and third career touchdown (caught first two at Southern Miss).
• The two teams had an identical 22 carries on offense in the first half, with Jackson State outgaining Texas Southern 126-75.
• Jackson State converted a fourth and eight on its first scoring drive in the second half, leading to a two-yard touchdown later in the drive.

Jackson State returns to action in conference play next Saturday in Mobile (Ala.) against Alabama A&M in the Gulf Coast Challenge.

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