JACKSON, Miss. | Jared Lockhart threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns, Nate Blount IV produced 149 yards from scrimmage, and Jackson State's defense smothered Tuskegee in a 41-7 victory Saturday night at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The win pushed Jackson State to 3-0 on the season, while Tuskegee fell to 1-2; the Tigers outscored Tuskegee 31-7 after halftime and finished with 492 total yards. Lockhart continued his hot start, completing 21 of 30 passes without an interception. His 376 passing yards marked his second consecutive game with more than 370 yards through the air, and he averaged 12.5 yards per attempt while accounting for all four of Jackson State's offensive touchdowns.
Jackson State broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter when Andrew Ivaniciuc connected on a 42-yard field goal. Less than three minutes later, Lockhart found Nate Rembert for a 39-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers a 10-0 halftime lead.
Then came the avalanche.
Jackson State scored three touchdowns in less than six minutes during the third quarter, with Lockhart doing the damage each time. He connected with Blount for a 15-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 17-0 before hitting Jaden Lockhart for an 84-yard scoring strike just 11 seconds into the Tigers' next possession. After Tuskegee answered with its only touchdown of the night, Lockhart responded again, finding Sebastien Saint-Louis for a six-yard touchdown and a 31-7 advantage. Jackson State generated 225 yards on only 12 offensive plays in the third quarter, with Lockhart completing 7-of-8 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.
Blount, named the Offensive MVP, gave Jackson State balance throughout the night. He rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, and caught four passes for 41 yards and a touchdown. His 149 yards from scrimmage led the Tigers. Jackson State spread the passing production, with Jaden Lockhart leading the receiving corps with four catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Jabari Jones had four receptions for 73 yards. Kobe Paul added 67 yards on two catches, Rembert finished with 47 yards and a score, and Blount added his 41 receiving yards and touchdown.
Jackson State limited the Golden Tigers to 198 total yards, including just 35 rushing yards on 34 attempts - one yard per carry. Tuskegee managed 13 first downs, went 3 of 14 on third down and failed on both of its fourth-down attempts. Jackson State also recorded four sacks, forced two turnovers, and scored 10 points off turnovers. Defensive MVP Michael Johnson Jr. was at the center of that effort. The defensive end finished with three solo tackles and two sacks for 10 yards, accounting for half of Jackson State's sacks.
Duke Clayton also helped turn the game defensively with a forced fumble, a tackle for loss and a 12-yard interception return, while Keith Bass Jr. recovered a fumble in the end zone for Jackson State's final touchdown. The Tigers' defense finished with seven tackles for loss totaling 50 yards. Ivaniciuc added a 33-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter before Bass' defensive touchdown with 3:28 remaining provided the final margin.
Jackson State finished with a 492-198 advantage in total offense, including a 376-163 edge through the air. The Tigers converted 7-of-14 third downs, scored on four of five trips to the red zone and did not commit a turnover.
Up Next
Jackson State returns home next weekend to face Southern at Veterans Memorial Stadium on ESPN+.
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