Sunday, September 3, 2017

Southern hangs on late for a 14-8 season-opening win against South Carolina State

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Trailing by six with less than two minutes to go, South Carolina State’s Jermaine Baxley slipped behind the Southern defense, and quarterback Dewann Ford floated a spiral his way.

What would’ve been a game-tying touchdown — and it would have served as a game-winner with a made extra point — slipped through Baxley’s hands.

A short while later, the Jaguars (1-0) were celebrating a hard-fought 14-8 victory in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge when Southern’s Danny Johnson batted down a desperation heave on fourth down.



It was a defensive battle, with neither team topping 350 yards of total offense.

Devon Benn scored Southern’s first touchdown of the season on the first carry of his career. The redshirt freshman allowed his blocks to set up, then zoomed through a crease, juking the safety off his feet on a 27-yard scamper.

On the next series, Southern motioned both tight ends to the right side of the line then faked a handoff to that direction, but quarterback Austin Howard kept it and moseyed into the end zone for an easy 6-yard touchdown.

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