Edward Waters College had a puncher’s chance against Jackson State, but JSU landed the knockout blow early in its season opener. In the first Division I HBCU football game since the 2019 Celebration Bowl, Jackson State gave Deion Sanders his first win as a head coach with a 53-0 win over an outmanned Edward Waters College.
The JSU defense held EWC without a first down for the entire first quarter as the offense set the tone at the line of scrimmage. Jalen Jones, who got the start at quarterback, found Warren Newman for a six yard touchdown on JSU’s first possession of the game. Later in the quarter a false start penalty backed Jackson State out of the red zone and the Tigers settled for a field goal. Jackson State ended the quarter up 10-0 after putting a stranglehold on the EWC offense.
[inArticle]
In the second quarter JSU opened things up with another score as Kymani Clarke scored on an eight yard touchdown run. Jalon Jones stacked the deck further with just over a minute before the half with a diving six yard touchdown run. JSU was up 24-0 when it got the ball back and Jones connected with Daylen Baldwin for a 10 yard touchdown pass. Jackson State led 31-0 going into halftime.
Jackson State marched down the field to start the third quarter with Jones finding Daylen Baldwin for a ten yard touchdown, putting JSU up 31-0. A two point conversion failed on an incomplete pass attempt by Jones.
Jones left the game late in the third quarter with JSU comfortably ahead 37-0. Quincy Casey took some snaps at quarterback but Jones would later return to put another touchdown on the board. Casey would return to finish out the game to get more reps in a game that was never close.
Jackson State will be back in Jackson next weekend to take on Mississippi Valley State in its SWAC opener. The Jackson State players doused Deion Sanders with a Gatorade bath as time expired to signify his first win in Jackson.