Jackson State finally has its Celebration Bowl title.
Powered by its defense, the Tigers defeated South Carolina State 28-7 to win their first Celebration Bowl, a postseason matchup between the champions of the MEAC and the SWAC that is considered the HBCU national championship, in front of an announced attendance of 36,823 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“These guys, they worked their butts off all year for this moment, and they went out there today and dominated,” Jackson State coach T.C. Taylor said. “I’m just proud of my football team, proud of the fans, my coaching staff, everybody that made this happen. You know, to be a national champ right now, it feels awesome.”
It was Jackson’s State first Celebration Bowl title in its third trip, all coming in the past four years. The seven points set a record for fewest points allowed and the 21-point margin tied for the largest in the game’s history, set when South Carolina State defeated Jackson State in 2021.
The game featured two of the better offenses in the FCS. But Jackson State, which had the fifth-best scoring defense in FCS, limited the Bulldogs, who had the 18th-best total offense, to 212 yards and 10 first downs South Carolina State, which scored at least 53 points in its previous two games, had only 59 yards and four first downs through three quarters.
Jackson State’s offense, led by quarterback Jacobian Morgan’s 233 yards and two touchdowns, totaled 383 yards. Morgan was named the game’s offensive MVP. Teammate Jeremiah Williams, who had several tackles for loss, was named the defensive MVP.
South Carolina State’s Eric Phoenix, named the MEAC offensive Player of the Year, completed only 14 of his 31 passes for 168 yards and an interception. The Bulldogs were held to 30 yards on 19 carries after averaging 153.5 yards per game.
“You can’t win football games like that,” South Carolina State coach Chennis Berry said.
Jackson State took a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Morgan to Joanes Fortilien, who outjumped his defender to catch the lobbed throw, with 11:26 remaining in the first half. The drive took 19 plays, including five successful third-down conversions, and lasted 78 yards. It was Morgan’s 20th touchdown pass and Fortilien’s team-leading 10th touchdown reception.
“Anytime someone can get a 19-play drive on you, that’s pretty tough, it wears you down,” Berry said.
Jackson State took advantage of a 67-yard pass from Morgan to Isaiah Spencer, who beat the safety with a double move, to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Irv Mulligan to take a 14-0 lead with 5:39 remaining in the half. It was the 12th touchdown run for Mulligan, the SWAC offensive Player of the Year. The 67-yard pass was Morgan’s longest this season. It also was Spencer’s longest reception.
“When they hit us on that double-move, that took the wind out of our sails a little bit,” Berry said.
Taylor said he knew that Berry had prepared his team for the play because it’s one that he estimated they had run six times, scoring on five of them. He said it’s a play they use when they think they can get a matchup on a safety.
The last two minutes of the first half were error-filled, including a blocked field-goal attempt and an interception return for a touchdown by Jackson State that was nullified by a penalty. It was the second touchdown for Jackson State that was wiped out by a penalty. The first was a punt return for a touchdown after South Carolina State’s first drive that was taken away because of a personal foul.
South Carolina State was limited to 62 yards and was shut out in the first half for the first time this season. Jackson State totaled 223 yards.
“We won the game in the summer,” Williams said. “Just about hard work, working extra.”
Things didn’t change in the second half.
South Carolina State’s Diego Addison intercepted an underthrown pass by Morgan at the 30-yard line, setting the Bulldogs up for a short field to start the second half. Ryan Stubblefield briefly replaced Phoenix as quarterback. South Carolina State almost lost a fumble, did lose eight yards and shanked its punt.
Jackson State increased its lead to 21-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Mulligan with 14:48 remaining. South Carolina State had Jackson State stopped and readying for a field-goal attempt a few plays earlier, but Josh Barker jumped offside and collided with a Tigers player, gifting a first down.
South Carolina State scored its only touchdown on a 3-yard run by Phoenix with 11:13 remaining. The drive covered 80 yards in eight plays. It was Phoenix’s third rushing touchdown this season and his 23rd overall.
Jackson State finished the game and took a 28-7 lead with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Morgan to Fortilien with 4:47 remaining. The play was a very close imitation of their first touchdown connection in the first quarter.
South Carolina State still had hope. It drove inside Jackson State’s 10-yard line and had four plays to score and get within two touchdowns. Weirder things have happened. During a timeout, a Jackson State player danced and enjoyed the band, as if he knew what was coming. He was right. Jackson State’s defense held firm, as it had throughout most of the game.
“To have our names in the book for the first time, it’s an amazing feeling,” Morgan said.
The championship was especially meaningful for Taylor, who grew up going to Jackson State games and played there before becoming an assistant. He took over when Deion Sanders left for Colorado two years ago.
Taylor said he had dreamed of winning the title. As he help up the trophy after Saturday’s championship, he waited on the confetti to fall, completing a quest that started when he went to his first game when he was 10 years old.
“It means everything to me,” he said.
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