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photo by Marcus Frazier
Alcorn State’s Roderick Williams tries to reverse field as Jackson State quarterback Jimmy Oliver changes direction Friday afternoon in the Capital City Classic at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. The Tigers defeated the Braves 31-19.
Thomas' future up in the air as Braves fall to JSU
Published Sunday, November 18, 2007
JACKSON — There was no miracle comeback in this year’s Capital City Classic.
The Jackson State Tigers (7-4, 7-2) shut down Alcorn State (2-8, 2-7), 31-19 at Jackson’s Veteran Memorial Stadium.
The Braves jumped out early on JSU when quarterback Tony Hobson led a 65-yard drive that was capped off by a 29-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Arceneaux.
After a big defensive hold on fourth and one by the Braves, the offense again found some rhythm moving the ball going down to the 17 before Hobson fumbled a bad snap that was recovered by JSU.
“It was just some miscommunication between me and the center,” Hobson said. “I felt like It was the turning point In the game. It gave Jackson State the momentum.”
JSU used that momentum to march 83 yards to take a 7-6 lead on a Lavarius Giles 1-yard run.
“I felt like we came out and played very well on offense to start with,” Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. “It just went downhill after the fumble.”
The Alcorn defense kept the game by holding JSU to just a field goal to go into the half down 10-6.
“You have to give credit to Alcorn,” JSU head coach Rick Comegy said. “They came in fired up and ready to play. We knew we had to fight to the end.”
JSU quarterback Jimmy Oliver settled down in the third quarter. He was able to use his legs to scramble for a first down that set up a 35-yard pass to Jaymar Johnson to give the Tigers a 17-6 lead.
“We didn’t execute,” Alcorn linbacker Antonio Cooper said. “We let their quarterback get out too much. He did what he’s done all year, make plays.”
The final nail into Alcorn’s coffin came in the fourth quarter. The Braves failed on a fake field goal attempt and turned the ball over to JSU.
On the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage, Giles broke off an 82-yard run that went for a touchdown and put the game out of reach.
“I knew they couldn’t tackle,” Giles said. “They may bump you some but can’t open-field tackle.”
With the win, JSU clinches the SWAC Eastern Division championship and a date with Western Division champ Grambling on Dec. 15 in Birmingham for the SWAC title.
The loss for Alcorn brings more questions of Thomas’ future as the Braves head coach.
“The rumors of coach Thomas not being here next year has always been on our minds,” Arceneaux said. “We just have to wait and see about the future.”
Thomas said this season was like the twilight zone.
“This has been an unusual season,” he said. “So many things have happened that were out of anyone’s control.”
As for his future with Alcorn, Thomas declined to comment. He said he was here to talk about the game with JSU and nothing else.
“I’m not going to talk about my future here,” he said. “We’ll talk about that when it comes around.”
Thomas said every program and coach go through down years and this was just one of them.
“We’ve had six winning seasons,” he said. “Everyone goes through them (bad times). I feel as a coach, we’ve done some things that are remarkable.”
Comments
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Listen folks, everyone wins and everyone loses at some point. The only reason you beat us, especially the last 4 years, was due in part to that nut of a coach we had. Now, I am not calling Johnny a nut, but you are feeling exactly what we felt under Bell. Dust yourselves off, chock this one up and write it on the books, there's always next year!
Posted by charliesangel (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I certainly agree
Posted by mbrown (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree too, IF JOHNNY BACK NEXT. FANS WE HAVE THE POWER TO TURN THIS PROGRAM AROUND, JUST DON'T ATTEND ANY GAMES. LET GET SMART & BETTER
LIKE TIGERS FANS.
COACH THOMAS + COACH BELL = ZERO!!!!!!!
#1 BRAVE FAN IN JACKSON
MAD BLACK WOMAN
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach4peace: Over the past 4 years, the talent at Alcorn carried the team to victory!! However, one can only go so far, coaching will eventually need to come to play. Wait a minute, we don't need folk from outside (especially Jackson State) tryin to tell us how to run our stuff!! ;)
Posted by alphamale (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Incognito, teach was only telling you that alum,fans of jackson state know what alcorn is going threw, we know.Fans stop coming,alum stop giving money.Just speak up and take action. We got a new coach and things are heading in a postive direction as you can see. So don't be mad get alcorn together and take a stand for change.
Posted by mbrown (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with alphamle, "THAT'S THE MESSAGE". Braves fans don't get mad with JState, Get mad @ the coach & staff. We need to upgrade our program, however, on yesterday it should have been only Jstate fans inside that game. Braves you are missing the point.
I am a brave 4life & my sister is a tiger 4 life. So therefore,
I will be @ that game on Dec. 15th to support the team from Mississippi :)
#1 brave fan in Jackson :)
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tigers don't know what Braves experience, it's just impossible. We've had this dude for just about a decade. ASU alums know what the deal is, we keep our business (well, at least we try) in the family!!!!!!!!!!
Of course I'll be about the MS team, no doubt!!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL, Incognito. It's all in love bro, it's amazing, we still can't help one another, in spite of the school rivalry, which in of itself, shouldn't be that serious. :)
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know!!!
Posted by BJ1979 (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's time for Johnny to go he has had enough time to get things right. Steve needs to retire from the NFL ( as much as we love him) too and become offensive coordinator, HC or something.
Posted by MissMagnolia (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is time for Thomas to step down. It has been a complete disgrace that 1 the University has kept him all this time and let our football program fall and 2 that he has not had the dignity to just leave.
Go home Johnny! Go Home......
Posted by mbrown (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Woman 2 Woman I hear you MissMagnolia.:)
1#Brave in Jackson
Posted by ntzluv (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WAY TO GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S OUR TIME TO SHINE BABY! WE HAD COACH BELL FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS AND WE WERE RIGHT WHERE ALCORN WAS THIS YEAR SO I FEEL THEIR PAIN....EACH TEAM HAS ITS "SEASONS" AND THIS YEAR WAS JUST JSU'S "SEASON." WE'RE GOING TO THE 'SHIP! SEE YOU IN B'HAM DECEMBER 15TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah NTZLUV, I will be there with bells on! Win or Lose, DIE HARD TIGER ALUMNI AND FAN!!!
Jackson fair, Jackson dear! To thee I love, my dear ole' college home, to thee I love, wherever I may roam!
Posted by ntzluv (anonymous) on November 20, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'll see you there Teach4Peace!!!!!!!!!! I'm a proud die hard fan as well!
Posted by GodsChild (anonymous) on November 23, 2007 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am soooooooooooooooo Glad he is GONE!!!!!!!!!!
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