Jackson State University

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. | A wild final three minutes ended in heartbreak for Jackson State as a late lead slipped away in a 24-21 loss to Bethune-Cookman at Daytona Stadium in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on Saturday afternoon.  

Trailing 17-14 in the fourth quarter, Jackson State (6-2, 3-2 SWAC) took over at the Wildcats' 1-yard line following a Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 3-1 SWAC) mistake on a punt when the snap got away from the punter, who kicked it out of the back of the end zone. Freshman running back Li'Darius Pryor punched in a 1-yard touchdown run with 2:56 remaining, capping a one-play drive after the extra point from Andrew Ivaniciuc put the Tigers ahead 21-17.   

However, Bethune-Cookman responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, when Tyler Jefferson scrambled around the backfield before completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to Rickie Shaw II with just 40 seconds left on the clock, giving the Wildcats a 3-point lead following Aiden Lanier's point-after kick.   

Jackson State mounted one final drive from its own 34-yard line with Jared Lockhart connecting with Jabari Jones for a 21-yard pass to get to the Wildcats' 45, and later found Nate Rembert for a 13-yard gain to reach the Bethune-Cookman 32-yard line with seconds remaining.   Following a timeout by Bethune-Cookman with six seconds left, Ivaniciuc lined up for a game-tying 49-yard field goal attempt as time expired; however, the kick sailed wide left.   

Lockhart finished the day 13-of-27 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Rembert hauled in five receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Pryor led Jackson State on the ground with 61 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Defensively, Tymon Wells led five players with six or more tackles, finishing with 11 including five solo and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Up Next
Jackson State is off next weekend before hosting Mississippi Valley State in the final home game of the season on Saturday, Nov. 7. Tickets are currently on sale for the regular season finale.

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