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JSU Look to Win Three Straight

Jackson State University got off to a rough start at the beginning of the Tony Hughes era with three losses out of the gate.

The University of http://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1878976">Nevada, Las Vegas pounded the Tigers 63-13 in the season opener. UNLV had the game well in hand at the half with a 42-7 lead, and JSU got outscored 21-3 in the second half.

The team looked to have righted the ship in the first half http://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1885813">against Tennessee State University with a 23-19 lead at the break. The second half was another matter, as TSU outscored the Tigers 21-0 and won 40-23.

Entering SWAC play, http://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1888998">Grambling State University jumped out to a huge 28-0 lead in the third quarter. JSU added a touchdown in the third and another in the fourth, but GSU’s lead was too large to overcome in the end.

The first win of the season came in the fourth game http://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1893379">against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. JSU jumped out to a 25-10 lead at halftime with a 71-yard interception helping the Tigers build it.

UAPB began a comeback in the second half, as the team scored 10 points in the third quarter and cut the JSU lead down to 25-20. The Tigers added a late third-quarter touchdown, sealing the 32-20 victory.

JSU looked to begin a winning streak http://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1898964">against Mississippi Valley State University. The Tigers fell behind 7-0 early in the first quarter against an inspired Delta Devils team. JSU added a field goal late in the quarter, cutting the deficit to 7-3.

MVSU made another touchdown in the middle of the second quarter, building the lead to 14-3. JSU scored 13 points in a furious rally before halftime, taking a 16-14 lead.

Neither team could score in the second, so the Tigers notched the second season win. JSU, which is currently at 2-1 in the conference, owns first place in the SWAC East, with Alcorn State University in second at 2-2.

The team comes off a bye week and looks to win its third straight game for first time since http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2296/year/2013">2013, when the Tigers won six straight. During the winning streak, the Grambling State game ended up being cancelled after the GSU players began boycotting athletic department conditions.

In the SWAC East, it looks like a http://www.espn.com/college-football/standings/_/view/fcs/group/31">two-horse race between JSU and ASU. Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University are both 1-4 in SWAC play, and MVSU is 0-4 in conference play.

If you throw out the UNLV game, JSU has been outscored 45-24 in the second half. In SWAC play, the Tigers have been outscored 69-62.

The second-half struggles cost JSU wins against Tennessee State and nearly allowed UAPB’s comeback. Finishing games in the second half might be the difference from reaching the SWAC Championship game or watching Alcorn State play in it again.

JSU hosts Southern University this weekend as it looks for win number three. The Jhttp://www.swac.org//ViewContent.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&CONTENT_ID=1878184">aguars boast the best scoring offense in the SWAC at 41.2 points per game and the second best total offense at 447.5 yards.

The Tigers have the fifth-best scoring defense in the conference at 34.4 points per game and the second best total defense, only giving up 363.4 yards per game. Southern has the second-best rushing offense, gaining 185.8 yards on the ground per contest, but JSU has the best rushing defense, only allowing 125.8 yards per game.

Two Jaguars JSU must stop are http://www.swac.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27400&ATCLID=211223691">running back Lenard Tillery and wide receiver Willie Quinn. Tillery has 3,678 career rushing yards and only needs 372 yards to become the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher. Tillery leads the nation in all-purpose yards with 814 and is tied for first, in the SWAC, in scoring with 42 points.

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