SWAC Football: 3 Takeaways from Jackson St. vs Alabama A&M

The Tigers lose their third straight game SWAC football game at home against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in Jackson, Mississippi. 

“Jackson State beat the teams on their schedule they should beat and has struggled against the upper echelon teams in the SWAC, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Words of ESPN commentator Jay Harris. More valid words have not been spoken.

Coach Sanders did arrive at JSU in January only to play a spring schedule. The Tigers are in the meat and potatoes of their schedule, looking like a team that won just one game last season. The Tigers struggled once again defensively and fell to the Bulldogs 52-43 at home.

Redshirt freshman Quincy Casey got the start for the Tigers and played well, throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns. Bulldogs’ quarterback Aqeel Glass outdueled Casey throwing for a career-high 440 yards and six touchdowns. Though there was not much defense in this one, it was a barn-burner.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

3. Defense was at a premium: 

The Alabama A&M offense had nearly 500 yards against Jackson State, while the Tigers had almost 400 yards of total offense. In the Bulldogs’ defense, their secondary is full of first-year students, including a true freshman. Jackson State lacks speed in their secondary, not to mention having to defend Aqeel Glass.

Jackson State’s issues along their defensive front reared their ugly heads today. Glass had all day to throw most of the game, and Glass burned the Tigers when they attempted to blitz. In the first half, both SWAC football teams scored at will.

It was not until the second half that the Bulldogs found some semblance of defense, and the Tigers even stopped A&M in the red zone in the third quarter. Though there was not much defense in this game, it was no less entertaining.