Southern Jags roll before 49,872 at Soldier Field

BY CLYDE TRAVIS, Chicago Sun-Times

What began as a potential one-night stand has turned into a 10-year love affair between the city and the Chicago Football Classic.

The Classic annually has brought the atmosphere of black college football to Soldier Field. On Saturday, Southern University of Baton Rouge, La., and Mississippi Valley State, which were the original participants in the Classic, took the stage before a crowd of 49,872.

Southern won the first Classic 51-30 and the 10th as well with a 23-6 victory.

The Jaguars (2-0) took a 14-0 lead on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Bryant Lee to Gerard Landry with 8:18 left in the second quarter and on a 12-yard strike from Lee to Kendrick Smith six minutes later.

Mississippi Valley (1-1) drove 80 yards in nine plays and scored on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Paul Roberts to Clarence Cotton with six seconds left in the half.

Lee tossed his third touchdown pass, hitting Smith again from 20 yards out with 6:04 left in the third quarter. Josh Durant completed the scoring by nailing a 30-yard field goal with 14:09 left in the fourth quarter.

Lee, the game's offensive MVP, said he never was worried despite his team's slow start.

''Everything was perfect. It wasn't too hot, it wasn't too cold, we were playing at Soldier Field. It just took awhile for everyone to get on the same page,'' said Lee, a redshirt sophomore who completed 16 of 28 passes for 206 yards. ''The offensive line really was the key. They dug in and give me enough time.''

Southern rushed for 293 yards, 106 of them by Brian Threat.

The Jaguars' Vince Lands was named the game's defensive MVP

Two Chicago players played in the game: Harlan's Johey Hargrett of Mississippi Valley State and Homewood-Flossmoor product Sir-Edward Staten of Southern.

''It felt great to be home with family and friends and getting some of that home cooking,'' Hargrett said. ''This is a dream come true. Not many people get a chance to come back and play at Soldier Field.''