JSU Tigers Beat UAPB 37-3 for Homecoming

JACKSON, Mississippi --  Junior signal caller Jarin Morikawa, in his first career start for the Tigers, passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Jackson State Tigers (2-5, 2-3 SWAC) to a 37-3 win over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-6, 0-5 SWAC) Saturday at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The win snapped a two game losing streak for the Tigers. The 37 points scored were also a season high for JSU.


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Morikawa, who completed 25 of 40 passing attempts, connected with 11 different receivers en route to the homecoming game victory. All of his passing numbers were career highs for the Hawaii native. His only negative play came on a sack for one yard.
Senior WR Devin Fosselman also had a career day as he hauled in six passes for a career high 175 yards and three touchdowns. The Woodville, Miss. native caught a short pass from Morikawa and raced 48 yards to give the Tigers  an early 7-0 lead – following a Ryan Deising extra point – on the opening drive of the game. His second touchdown reception was on a 10 yard pass at the 4:39 mark in the second quarter, making the score 24-0. His final TD was a 59-yard strike to open the fourth quarter, making the score 34-3.

When Morikawa and Fosselman were not hooking up, Robert Johnson, IV helped the Tigers eat up the clock as he spearheaded a solid rushing attack. He finished with a season best 100 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The Terry, Miss. native had his all around best game of the season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. His only score of the game came on a 42-yard dash. The run capped a two-play 45 yard drive and put JSU ahead 17-0 with 7:10 left in the second quarter.

The Tigers offense was clicking on all cylinders, finishing with 136 rushing yards, 333 passing yards for a total 469 total yards. JSU had no interceptions of fumbles and only had three penalties for 15 yards.

The Tigers defense applied constant pressure to UAPB QB Nolan Sorensen. Sorensen was held to 99 passing yards and 27 rushing yards. He was sacked only twice but the Tigers had a season high 16 QB hurries. The Tigers allowed only nine UAPB first downs, 76 rushing yards and 99 passing yards.

Keontre Anderson finished the game with seven QB hurries and Teddrick Terrell had five. Terrell and Javancy Jones each recorded a sack on Sorensen.

Senior K Ryan Deising was also a key contributor for the Tigers, connecting on three of four field goals. He nailed a season long 49-yarder with 3:09 left in the game, making the final score 37-3. The Nashville, Tenn. native connected on his first field goal, a 20-yard attempt, with 10 seconds remaining in the first quarter – which effectively put the game out of reach for the Golden Lions.

JSU returns to action Oct. 31 to face Mississippi Valley State in Itta Bena, Miss. in SWAC action. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m.


BOX SCORE

Post-Game Notes
- Jarin Morikawa is the first native of Hawaii to start at QB for JSU.
-Interim head coach Derrick McCall picked up his first career coaching victory at JSU.
-JSU held UAPB to a season low nine first downs.
-WR Daniel Williams was held to a season low 1 catch for 11 yards.
-P Darcy Williamson had an effective day punting the ball. He averaged 31.5 yards per punt. UAPB’s average field position started at its own 27 yard line.
- JSU finished the game with 28 rushing attempts and 40 passing attempts.



COURTESY JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION