JACKSON, Miss. – It was a classic SWAC slugfest in the Mississippi Capital. The Golden Lions took some shots to the chin and gave some back, but in the end Jackson State (4-2, 4-0) had more punches and UAPB (0-5, 0-3) was left to swallow a tough 42-33 loss.
The two teams combined for near 1,000 yards, but the difference would be the 366 yards rushing piled up by JSU. Tiger running back Tommy Gooden accounted for for 214 yards and four touchdowns to lead JSU. His 30-yard touchdown with one minute remaining in the game sealed the win for Jackson State. Gooden was a headache for UAPB, especially in the second half, scoring from 43, 3 and 30 yards out.
After matching the Tigers blow for blow the first three quarters, the Golden Lions were scoreless in the fourth quarter.
UAPB roared out of the blocks in the first quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns to take a 13-0 lead. Running back Jeremiah Young scored the first touchdown on a 10-yard run with 6:02 left, keeping his streak alive of scoring in each of the UAPB games this season. Then on the next UAPB possession, quarterback Ben Anderson hit Brandon Kensey on a 14-yard TD strike. The point-after failed, leaving UAPB with the 13-0 lead.
JSU got on the board late in the quarter when Clayton Moore hit Tobias Singleton for a 37-yd touchdown pass. Young answered early in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown run, giving UAPB a 20-7 lead with 14:07 left in the half.
However, lightening struck twice for the Tigers just before halftime as they stormed back to take the lead. A 17-yard touchdown run by Gooden cut the lead to 20-14 with 1:29 left in the half. Then, JSU blocked a punt with 28 seconds left in the half to set up shop at the Golden Lions 20. One play later, Moore connected with Zach Pendleton with 19 seconds left in the second quarter giving the Tigers the lead at 21-20.
The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, putting UAPB at the 35-yard line. Anderson completed a 20-yard pass, then rushed for 11 more to give the Golden Lions a shot at regaining the lead with a long fieldgoal. After missing an extra point and a 52-yard fieldgoal attempt, UAPB kicker Tyler Strickland nailed a 51-yarder as time expired to give the Golden Lions a 23-21 halftime lead.
Early in the third quarter, JSU jumped back in front on Gooden’s 43-yard scamper, making it 28-23 with 11:42 left. But, a 28-yard fieldgoal by Strickland, and a 7-yard touchdown pass from Anderson to running back Jamie Smith had UAPB back in front 33-28 with 5:16 remaining.
The lead didn’t last long for the Golden Lions as JSU came right back on their next possession, driving 75 yards in eight plays to reclaim the lead. Gooden capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run with 2:37 left to give JSU a 35-33 lead.
This time, UAPB wouldn’t answer and Gooden added some insurance in the final minute of the game.
Young had 78 yards and two touchdowns for UAPB, while Anderson connected on 16-of-33 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
The Golden Lions return home to host Texas Southern next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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