Even without starting quarterback JaCobian Morgan, Jackson State football managed to pick up a road win against Florida A&M in Week 10.
In Morgan's place, freshman Jared Lockhart started for JSU (6-2, 4-1 SWAC), leading the Tigers to a 41-16 win over the Rattlers (3-5, 2-2).
Lockhart was 5-for-10 for 104 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 37 yards on five carries with two fumbles.
"We believe in Jared," Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said at his weekly press conference on Nov. 3. "He went out there, he was shaky early on, but we did a good job as a staff adjusting some things at the half."
Taylor did not give an update on Morgan for JSU's next game at Mississippi Valley State (1-7, 0-4) at Rice-Totten Stadium on Nov. 8 (2 p.m. CT, SWAC TV).
The game against FAMU was Lockhart's second start of the season and third appearance. He started JSU's game against Division II Tuskegee when Morgan was rested, and he saw time in JSU's matchup against Grambling State after Morgan's injury. In both of those games, Lockhart seemed more comfortable than he did during the first half against FAMU .
In the first quarter, Lockhart lost a fumble on a running play near the goal line. Later in the quarter, he missed a pass to running back Donerio Davenport in the end zone on third down inside FAMU's 10.
During JSU's next drive, he overthrew receiver Ja'Naylon Dupree on a wide-open deep route with nothing but grass in front of him.
"I told him, 'It's a lot tougher than what you thought,'" Taylor said. "His last start was against Tuskegee, and take nothing away from them … but the speed of the game was moving a little different. He had some (missed) opportunities … and he could have tanked, but he kept fighting."
JSU leaned on its run game to support the offense, finishing with 392 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Tigers defense held the Rattlers to 202 yards of total offense.
Taylor said Lockhart also drew support from his teammates, including Morgan, who traveled with the team and was seen wearing a boot on his left foot and using crutches on the sideline.
"We didn't have (Morgan), but he was there," Taylor said. "He did a good job of being engaged with Jared throughout that football game."
After the win over FAMU, Taylor indicated that Morgan could potentially return for Jackson State "in the next couple weeks." In the meantime, Taylor expects to continue to see the Tigers rally around Lockhart.
"That's what's got to happen going forward," Taylor said. "People got to step up around him till he settles in football games, and we just got to be solid around him as a program."
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@gannett.com and follow her on X @tiareid65 .
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State coach TC Taylor evaluates freshman QB Jared Lockhart
