Despite another dramatic finish at home, Jackson State football managed to come out on top against Alcorn State in Week 13.
With the 27-21 win over Alcorn State (5-7, 4-4 SWAC) at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Nov. 22, Jackson State (9-2, 7-1) won its second-straight SWAC East division title, securing its spot in the SWAC Championship game.
Jackson State will host the title game against SWAC West winner Prairie View A&M on Dec. 6. The winner of that game goes on to the Celebration Bowl vs South Carolina State, the MEAC champion, Dec. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
"To clinch the East division and everything we've been through as a football team with the injuries and the every-week battles, it's just a roller coaster of emotions right now," JSU coach T.C. Taylor said.
Jackson State won the game, and the division title, without its starting quarterback JaCobian Morgan, who missed the final four games after suffering a left foot injury on Oct. 25.
Freshman Jared Lockhart has filled in for the Tigers. He was 15-for-17 for 194 yards and a touchdown against Alcorn State and rushed for 9 yards on 13 carries.
JSU overcame a fumble in victory formation in the final minutes by stopping Alcorn State's two Hail Mary tries for the win.
"I know my team. I know these guys around me," Taylor said. "I know this team's full of playmakers. They've got a will to win. We got a great group that came back off last year's team, and the guys we added have an appetite for success."
Since the SWAC began awarding titles to the conference's division winners in 1999, this is the ninth SWAC East title for Jackson State. This is also the fourth time the Tigers have won the division in back-to-back years. It's also the second year in a row that JSU will host the game.
Jackson State beat Southern 41-13 in last year's SWAC Championship game, then beat South Carolina State 28-7 for its first Celebration Bowl win.
Despite three straight games at home coming down to the wire, Jackson State prevailed every time, finishing 5-0 at home.
"We're getting everybody's best," Taylor said. "These teams are coming in here and playing their butts off against us, so we're going to have to be ready to go."
Morgan warmed up ahead of JSU's game against Alcorn State but did not take the field. Instead, Lockhart made his fourth-consecutive start. Taylor said Morgan will be cleared for the championship.
"He felt good this past week with the foot and everything, but we just made the decision to (go) with Jared right now and get JaCobian that extra rest," Taylor said. "He gets two more weeks to really get ready to go. We'll go back and evaluate and everything and get him ready … to play."
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65 .
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: TC Taylor reaction to Jackson State repeating as SWAC East champions
