Jackson State wins Southern Heritage Classic, 33-26

Quarterback Therriault is MVP, stars with four TD passes

Memphis, TN - In the past, Jackson State coach Rick Comegy would have been hoping, perhaps praying, that his defense would be able to hold off a late Tennessee State rally. That’s because his team has fallen too many times to their Southern Heritage Classic rivals not to worry. But Saturday night, with his team clinging to a seven-point lead and TSU having five cracks inside JSU’s 10-yard line at a game-tying touchdown, Comegy was confident his Tigers would prevail.

And when JSU held on for the 33-26 win, snapping a seven-game slide to TSU in front of 44,688 Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Comegy declared it the beginning of something special.

Johnson's knee injury a blow to secondary

MEMPHIS — The 33-26 win over Tennessee State on Saturday night didn't come without an unfortunate loss for Jackson State. Starting cornerback Anthony Johnson is likely out for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Saturday's win. The diagnosis of a torn ACL is a preliminary one, a school official said during the game.

Johnson, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior who transferred from Mississippi State before last season, will be re-evaluated at a later date. Johnson suffered the injury while running down to cover a punt early in the first quarter. Johnson, who scouts say is JSU's best chance to get a player picked in the upcoming NFL draft, had to be assisted off the field by three people. He put no weight on his right leg.

Euphoric breakthrough

MEMPHIS — With a flabbergasted look rolling across his face, Jackson State linebacker Ryan Rich looked for someone - anyone - as he ran about the Liberty Bowl field. Someone to hug. Someone to smile with. Someone to share this oh-so-fantastic feeling with. It's a feeling that comes eight years in the making.

Jackson State beat Tennessee State 33-26 on Saturday night in front of a raucous crowd at the Liberty Bowl, knocking off the Tigers from Nashville for the first time in eight years in the Southern Heritage Classic. Not only that, but the Tigers from Mississippi's Capital City are 2-0 for the first time since 2001.

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Classic retains star power -- Founder Jones keeps game in spotlight

As the Southern Heritage Classic heads into its 21st game Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, one thing it's proven is that it has staying power.

Throughout the Classic's existence, founder Fred Jones has been able to keep the annual event, which culminates with Tennessee State meeting Jackson State, fresh, exciting, and more importantly, relevant.

Fans come to Memphis from across the Mid-South to attend the Classic Comedy Jam, the Classic R&B concert, the Ed "Too Tall" Jones Golf Classic, the SHC parade, the high school Battle of the Bands, the tailgating - and yes, the game itself.

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JSU preps for blitz-happy TSU

Two things came to mind when QB Casey Therriault finished watching film of Tennessee State earlier this week. "They are big, big bodies," Therriault said. "They like to send a lot of blitz packages." During its 27-14 win over Alabama A&M last Saturday, Tennessee State sacked Bulldogs QB Deaunte Mason seven times for a loss of 48 yards.

With the game against TSU set for Saturday at 6 p.m. in Memphis, those aren't numbers Therriault wants to see. "They do a lot of stunts, twisting and turning. They got a lot of guys who keep on going," Therriault said. Therriault was sacked twice in JSU's 32-17 season-opening win over Delta State, but he was forced from the pocket several more times.

Kicking game experiences rough start

Renty Rollins immediately covered his head with his hands. He knew his snap was, by now, soaring high above Jackson State punter Reed Gallagher's head. Rollins, JSU's new snapper, wheeled around to see that he was, indeed, correct. "You hate to see it happen," Jackson State coach Rick Comegy said. "You think, 'Oh my God.'''

Most Jackson State fans likely had similar thoughts as Rollins' first punt snap flew over Gallagher's head less than five minutes into last Saturday's opener against Delta State. To his credit, though, Rollins' next three snaps were just fine.

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