The third time was the appeal for Jackson State University in Atlanta.
Chants of “T.C.” for Jackson State alum and coach T.C. Taylor echoed by way of Mercedes-Benz Stadium after the Tigers ended their Celebration Bowl drought, defeating South Carolina State University 28-7 in a rematch of the 2021 bowl recreation to earn Jackson State’s first title.
Jackson State began quick, leaping out to a 14-0 lead earlier than halftime, and South Carolina State didn’t have a solution till the fourth quarter. The Tigers dominated all 4 quarters of the sport, outgaining the Bulldogs 385 to 178.
“It was some nice moments on the market as we speak. I feel the one which sort of blew me away was once I heard the gang hollering my title, like, good gracious,” Taylor mentioned. “That was unbelievable. That’s a second I’ll always remember. … I’ve been ready a very long time to get on that stage and hoist that trophy up.”
Tigers quarterback Jacobian Morgan earned Celebration Bowl offensive MVP honors after finishing 15 out of 21 passes for 233 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams received defensive MVP after tallying two vital tackles for loss for the Tigers.
Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year Irv Mulligan completed the evening dashing for 71 yards and two touchdowns.
“It’s one factor to speak it, however we actually are a humble group, so it’s such as you bought to have the ability to carry out and stroll it as effectively,” Mulligan mentioned. “We already knew we had what it took. We simply needed to discover the small items to place it collectively. Initially, Coach T did a fantastic job, and I simply give my hats off to him and the remainder of my teammates.”
In Jackson State’s earlier two Celebration Bowl appearances, the Tigers fell to South Carolina State 31-10 in 2021 and North Carolina Central University 41-34 (extra time) in 2022.
The Tigers are the third Southwestern Athletic Conference group to win the Celebration Bowl, becoming a member of Florida A&M University (2023) and Grambling State University (2016). The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference leads the collection all-time 6-3.
Postgame quotes
Jackson State’s Taylor: “It’s been a fantastic, unimaginable run for this soccer group and these coaches, all people concerned with JSU soccer. The followers – I can’t say sufficient — they actually confirmed up right here within the metropolis of Atlanta for this recreation. These guys, they labored their butts off all 12 months for this second, they usually went on the market as we speak and dominated.”
South Carolina State coach Chennis Berry: “First and foremost, we didn’t get it completed. We don’t make excuses or explanations. We had 60 minutes. I say it on a regular basis, after which we didn’t get it completed in 60 minutes.
“As the top soccer coach, I take possession for all losses [and] I have a good time the gamers within the wins. … I’m super-proud of this soccer group. We didn’t play the way in which we had been able to taking part in. … These are classes that they’ll be taught for the remainder of their lives. I congratulated each one in all them, though the result didn’t occur the way in which we wished it to occur. I’m very, very happy with the season we had.”
Records
– Jackson State’s 19-play drive lasting 9 minutes and 39 seconds was the longest in performs and time of possession in Celebration Bowl historical past.
– South Carolina State quarterback Eric Phoenix, the 2024 MEAC Offensive Player of the Year, broke the college’s single-season passing yard document within the first quarter. He completed the season with 2,628 yards, surpassing Malcolm Long’s document of two,507 set in 2009.
– Jackson State’s 21-point margin of victory ties the document for the most important in Celebration Bowl historical past. South Carolina State defeated Jackson State by 21 factors within the 2021 Celebration Bowl.
– South Carolina State’s seven factors mark the fewest factors scored within the bowl recreation, surpassing the earlier document of 9 factors scored by North Carolina Central University in 2016.
– South Carolina State’s 178 whole yards are the fewest yards earned in Celebration Bowl historical past, surpassing the 194 whole yards Jackson State earned within the 2021 recreation.
– South Carolina State linebacker Aaron Smith’s 17 tackles set the document for many tackles within the Celebration Bowl, surpassing the earlier document of 11.
Memorable moments
– Jackson State freshman working again Travis Terrell Jr. returned the primary punt of the sport for a landing and celebrated with a entrance flip into the top zone. However, the landing was referred to as again as a consequence of an pointless roughness name on the Tigers.
– South Carolina State defensive again Diego Addison intercepted Morgan on the opening drive of the second half.
– In the second quarter, South Carolina State blocked Jackson State’s 53-yard subject aim try.
– Jackson State huge receiver Joanes Fortilien scored the primary landing of the sport on a nook fade ultimately zone within the second quarter. Fortilien wasn’t completed, although – he additionally scored the ultimate landing of the sport for Jackson State. He completed the sport with six catches for 43 yards.
– Jackson State’s Morgan discovered huge receiver Isaiah Spencer for a 67-yard strike within the second quarter, and working again Irv Mulligan capped off the play with a one-yard landing run to present the Tigers a 14-0 lead earlier than halftime.
– In the fourth quarter, South Carolina State dedicated an offsides penalty on fourth down, and Mulligan rushed up the center for 2 yards to attain his second landing, giving Jackson State a commanding 21-0 lead.
– Phoenix discovered huge receiver Nigel Johnson for a 64-yard completion within the fourth quarter. Later within the drive, with 11:13 remaining within the recreation, Phoenix ran the ball into the top zone to keep away from a Bulldogs shutout.
Attendance
The official attendance for the sport was 36,823, practically 12,000 fewer individuals than those that attended the 2021 matchup between Jackson State and South Carolina State, which was a document 48,653.
