By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
He’s developing a reputation as “Slick Nick.”
For the second straight game, Southern University wide receiver Nick Benjamin was good with a pass on a trick play. This time, Benjamin found wide receiver A.J. Turner for a 37-yard gain, setting up the first of Southern’s four scores in a 41-34 comeback win over Tennessee State on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
A week earlier, his 12-yard touchdown toss to tight end Evan Alexander on a fake field goal provided precious fourth quarter cushion in a 12-2 victory over Prairie View.
SU put in the play Tuesday afternoon, the Jaguars’ first real game-week practice.
“They feel like, with me playing quarterback in high school, I had the arm to throw it if need be,” Benjamin said. “We said we were going to do it at halftime. We came out and executed the play.”
Catching and scoring
SU senior wide receiver RaShon Jacobs, a Louisiana-Monroe transfer starting in place of Gerard Landry, caught his first TD pass at Southern. It was the third TD of the former Woodlawn High standout’s collegiate career. He sat out last season after transferring and last scored on Oct. 4, 2003, when he caught his only previous scores, two touchdowns in a 44-41 loss at Arkansas State. Also, senior RB Darren Coates’ 31-yard TD catch was the first of his career.
Landry, who went for a third-down converting 21 yards on his first catch, grabbed a 6-yard TD on his second one. That gave him a receiving TD in all four Jaguars games this season.
Game ball
To SU quarterback Bryant Lee. The sophomore improved to 5-1 as a starter (and he also won the Texas Southern game in relief). He had career highs with 305 yards and four TDs. For the season, he’s thrown for 870 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions.
Plays of the game
Strong safety/nickel back Toyin Akinwale and eagle linebacker Donald Steele, in for the injured Johnathan Malveaux (ankle), came heavy on the pressure on a third-and-6 at the Southern 33-yard line. Their rush forced an intentional grounding from TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner and instead of converting or even being in field-goal range, the Tigers were back at their own 49 and had to punt four minutes into the fourth quarter.
That stop led to SU’s go-ahead score three offensive plays later: with Del Roberts getting back in bounds after being interfered with, catching a Lee pass and weaving the rest of the way to complete a 48-yard touchdown. That gave the Jaguars a 38-34 lead with 10:16 to play.
Numbers-crunching
How tough of a first quarter was it for Southern in falling behind 20-6? Tennessee State had scored just 16 first-quarter points in its first three games of the season before putting up 20 against Southern, which had allowed just two touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. … SU had held Prairie View to 197 yards for the entire game the week before, but Tennessee State had 221 on 19 plays. … But TSU managed just 228 in the final three quarters.
Did you notice?
Only one of Southern’s two captains, free safety Jarmaul George, went out for the pregame coin toss. The other captain, Landry, was suspended for the first half after being ejected for swinging at a player midway through the fourth quarter in the win over Prairie View. … Landry and George were back together as the captains met with the referee at midfield before the start of the second half. … Until Josh Duran made good on a PAT with 3:24 until halftime, Southern had not converted an extra point after its previous five touchdowns (one kick blocked, two missed PATs and two incomplete two-point conversion passes.)
NCAA Football Boxscore - Tennessee St at Southern U
Attendance: 15,371
Final 1 2 3 4 Score
Tennessee St 20 7 7 0 34
Southern U « 6 13 13 9 41
1st Quarter
Tennessee St Touchdown - 1-yard run by Antonio Heffner. (Eric Benson kick). 11:33 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 61-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Brandon Belvin. (Kick failed). 9:13 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 13-yard pass from Bryant Lee to RoShon Jacobs. (Kick failed). 6:23 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 49-yard run by Javarris Williams. (Eric Benson kick). 0:29 Remaining.
2nd Quarter
Tennessee St Touchdown - 4-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Chris Johnson. (Eric Benson kick). 6:36 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 31-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Darren Coates. (Pass failed). 6:03 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 1-yard run by Darren Coates. (Josh Duran kick). 3:24 Remaining.
3rd Quarter
Southern U Touchdown - 6-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Gerard Landry. (Pass failed). 5:42 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 1-yard run by Darren Coates. (Josh Duran kick). 2:41 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 38-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Ronald Evans. (Eric Benson kick). 1:48 Remaining.
4th Quarter
Southern U Touchdown - 48-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Del Roberts. (Kick blocked). 10:16 Remaining.
Southern U Field Goal - 31-yarder by Josh Duran. 3:56 Remaining.
Final Team Statistics
Tennessee St Southern U
First Downs 17 21
Rushes - Yards 49-133 43-138
Passing Yards 316 342
Return Yards 15 61
Passing (Att-Comp-Int) 27-13-2 34-24-0
Punts - Average 7-34 5-40
Fumbles - Lost 4-3 3-2
Penalties - Yards 11-131 5-40
Time of Possession 29:53 30:07
Individual Statistics
Passing
Tennessee St Att Comp Yards Int TD
Antonio Heffner 26 13 316 2 3
Calvin McNairl 1 0 0 0 0
Southern U Att Comp Yards Int TD
Bryant Lee 33 23 305 0 4
Nick Benjamin 1 1 37 0 0
Rushing
Tennessee St Att Yards Average TD
Javarris Williams 14 107 7.6 1
Terrence Wright 11 17 1.5 0
Calvin McNairl 4 11 2.8 0
Sherrod Graddick 1 5 5.0 0
Ronald Evans 2 4 2.0 0
Antonio Heffner 17 -11 -0.6 1
Southern U Att Yards Average TD
Darren Coates 17 115 6.8 2
Kendrick Smith 5 34 6.8 0
Bryant Lee 12 -2 -0.2 0
Brian Threat 5 -3 -0.6 0
Team 4 -6 -1.5 0
Receiving
Tennessee St Rec Yards Average TD
Chris Johnson 6 119 19.8 1
Brandon Belvin 3 106 35.3 1
Troy Smith 1 22 22.0 0
Terrence Wright 1 15 15.0 0
Ronald Evans 1 38 38.0 1
Kwame Patrick 1 16 16.0 0
Southern U Rec Yards Average TD
Marquarius 'Del' Roberts 6 110 18.3 1
Mark Henderson 5 55 11.0 0
Darren Coates 3 45 15.0 1
RaShon Jacobs 3 40 13.3 1
Albert Turner 2 50 25.0 0
Gerard Landry 2 27 13.5 1
Kendrick Smith 2 11 5.5 0
Juamorris Stewart 1 4 4.0 0
Kicking
Tennessee St FGMade FGAtt Long EPMade EPAtt
Eric Benson 0 0 0 4 5
Southern U FGMade FGAtt Long EPMade EPAtt
Josh Duran 1 2 31 2 4
He’s developing a reputation as “Slick Nick.”
For the second straight game, Southern University wide receiver Nick Benjamin was good with a pass on a trick play. This time, Benjamin found wide receiver A.J. Turner for a 37-yard gain, setting up the first of Southern’s four scores in a 41-34 comeback win over Tennessee State on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
A week earlier, his 12-yard touchdown toss to tight end Evan Alexander on a fake field goal provided precious fourth quarter cushion in a 12-2 victory over Prairie View.
SU put in the play Tuesday afternoon, the Jaguars’ first real game-week practice.
“They feel like, with me playing quarterback in high school, I had the arm to throw it if need be,” Benjamin said. “We said we were going to do it at halftime. We came out and executed the play.”
Catching and scoring
SU senior wide receiver RaShon Jacobs, a Louisiana-Monroe transfer starting in place of Gerard Landry, caught his first TD pass at Southern. It was the third TD of the former Woodlawn High standout’s collegiate career. He sat out last season after transferring and last scored on Oct. 4, 2003, when he caught his only previous scores, two touchdowns in a 44-41 loss at Arkansas State. Also, senior RB Darren Coates’ 31-yard TD catch was the first of his career.
Landry, who went for a third-down converting 21 yards on his first catch, grabbed a 6-yard TD on his second one. That gave him a receiving TD in all four Jaguars games this season.
Game ball
To SU quarterback Bryant Lee. The sophomore improved to 5-1 as a starter (and he also won the Texas Southern game in relief). He had career highs with 305 yards and four TDs. For the season, he’s thrown for 870 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions.
Plays of the game
Strong safety/nickel back Toyin Akinwale and eagle linebacker Donald Steele, in for the injured Johnathan Malveaux (ankle), came heavy on the pressure on a third-and-6 at the Southern 33-yard line. Their rush forced an intentional grounding from TSU quarterback Antonio Heffner and instead of converting or even being in field-goal range, the Tigers were back at their own 49 and had to punt four minutes into the fourth quarter.
That stop led to SU’s go-ahead score three offensive plays later: with Del Roberts getting back in bounds after being interfered with, catching a Lee pass and weaving the rest of the way to complete a 48-yard touchdown. That gave the Jaguars a 38-34 lead with 10:16 to play.
Numbers-crunching
How tough of a first quarter was it for Southern in falling behind 20-6? Tennessee State had scored just 16 first-quarter points in its first three games of the season before putting up 20 against Southern, which had allowed just two touchdowns in the previous 10 quarters. … SU had held Prairie View to 197 yards for the entire game the week before, but Tennessee State had 221 on 19 plays. … But TSU managed just 228 in the final three quarters.
Did you notice?
Only one of Southern’s two captains, free safety Jarmaul George, went out for the pregame coin toss. The other captain, Landry, was suspended for the first half after being ejected for swinging at a player midway through the fourth quarter in the win over Prairie View. … Landry and George were back together as the captains met with the referee at midfield before the start of the second half. … Until Josh Duran made good on a PAT with 3:24 until halftime, Southern had not converted an extra point after its previous five touchdowns (one kick blocked, two missed PATs and two incomplete two-point conversion passes.)
NCAA Football Boxscore - Tennessee St at Southern U
Attendance: 15,371
Final 1 2 3 4 Score
Tennessee St 20 7 7 0 34
Southern U « 6 13 13 9 41
1st Quarter
Tennessee St Touchdown - 1-yard run by Antonio Heffner. (Eric Benson kick). 11:33 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 61-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Brandon Belvin. (Kick failed). 9:13 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 13-yard pass from Bryant Lee to RoShon Jacobs. (Kick failed). 6:23 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 49-yard run by Javarris Williams. (Eric Benson kick). 0:29 Remaining.
2nd Quarter
Tennessee St Touchdown - 4-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Chris Johnson. (Eric Benson kick). 6:36 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 31-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Darren Coates. (Pass failed). 6:03 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 1-yard run by Darren Coates. (Josh Duran kick). 3:24 Remaining.
3rd Quarter
Southern U Touchdown - 6-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Gerard Landry. (Pass failed). 5:42 Remaining.
Southern U Touchdown - 1-yard run by Darren Coates. (Josh Duran kick). 2:41 Remaining.
Tennessee St Touchdown - 38-yard pass from Antonio Heffner to Ronald Evans. (Eric Benson kick). 1:48 Remaining.
4th Quarter
Southern U Touchdown - 48-yard pass from Bryant Lee to Del Roberts. (Kick blocked). 10:16 Remaining.
Southern U Field Goal - 31-yarder by Josh Duran. 3:56 Remaining.
Final Team Statistics
Tennessee St Southern U
First Downs 17 21
Rushes - Yards 49-133 43-138
Passing Yards 316 342
Return Yards 15 61
Passing (Att-Comp-Int) 27-13-2 34-24-0
Punts - Average 7-34 5-40
Fumbles - Lost 4-3 3-2
Penalties - Yards 11-131 5-40
Time of Possession 29:53 30:07
Individual Statistics
Passing
Tennessee St Att Comp Yards Int TD
Antonio Heffner 26 13 316 2 3
Calvin McNairl 1 0 0 0 0
Southern U Att Comp Yards Int TD
Bryant Lee 33 23 305 0 4
Nick Benjamin 1 1 37 0 0
Rushing
Tennessee St Att Yards Average TD
Javarris Williams 14 107 7.6 1
Terrence Wright 11 17 1.5 0
Calvin McNairl 4 11 2.8 0
Sherrod Graddick 1 5 5.0 0
Ronald Evans 2 4 2.0 0
Antonio Heffner 17 -11 -0.6 1
Southern U Att Yards Average TD
Darren Coates 17 115 6.8 2
Kendrick Smith 5 34 6.8 0
Bryant Lee 12 -2 -0.2 0
Brian Threat 5 -3 -0.6 0
Team 4 -6 -1.5 0
Receiving
Tennessee St Rec Yards Average TD
Chris Johnson 6 119 19.8 1
Brandon Belvin 3 106 35.3 1
Troy Smith 1 22 22.0 0
Terrence Wright 1 15 15.0 0
Ronald Evans 1 38 38.0 1
Kwame Patrick 1 16 16.0 0
Southern U Rec Yards Average TD
Marquarius 'Del' Roberts 6 110 18.3 1
Mark Henderson 5 55 11.0 0
Darren Coates 3 45 15.0 1
RaShon Jacobs 3 40 13.3 1
Albert Turner 2 50 25.0 0
Gerard Landry 2 27 13.5 1
Kendrick Smith 2 11 5.5 0
Juamorris Stewart 1 4 4.0 0
Kicking
Tennessee St FGMade FGAtt Long EPMade EPAtt
Eric Benson 0 0 0 4 5
Southern U FGMade FGAtt Long EPMade EPAtt
Josh Duran 1 2 31 2 4
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