Tia Reid, Mississippi Clarion LedgerSun, November 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM UTC·2 min readWith 1:09 left, it seemed like Jackson State football's win over Alcorn State in Week 13 was imminent.
The win seemed so obvious that Jackson State lined up in victory formation, intending to kneel out the rest of the game’s time.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut freshman quarterback Jared Lockhart fumbled the snap, and Alcorn State defensive back Orlandus McLaurin recovered it at the Braves’ 45-yard line, giving Alcorn State an opportunity to take the lead while down by six points.
Despite getting two Hail Mary chances, Alcorn State (5-7, 4-4 SWAC) and Jackson State (9-2, 7-1) escaped with a 27-21 win at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Nov. 22.
“Who’d have thought that would have happened?” JSU coach T.C. Taylor said. “You work that every day. We go through quarterback-center exchange … but you just try to pick (Lockhart) up because we still got football to play. You can’t get too tough on him.”
After the fumble, Alcorn State moved the ball to JSU’s 43 before taking its first shot to the end zone. Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert’s first try fell incomplete, but it hit the ground with one second left on the clock.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJackson State shot off fireworks because the clock went to zero and some players came out on the field.
After game officials cleared the field, Tolbert and the Braves lined up for a second try. JSU defensive back Josh Higgins broke up the pass in the end zone, ending the game.
It was JSU’s third-straight home game that came down to the final play of the game, following wins over Alabama State and Bethune-Cookman, prompting Taylor to once again claim, he’s “never been in a football game like what I experienced today.”
“(Lockhart) had to trust his teammates,” Taylor said. “And his teammates had his back. Defense went out there and got it done for him.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith the win, Jackson State clinched the SWAC East division title and will play for its second-straight SWAC Championship. The game against Prairie View A&M will be at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Dec. 6 (1 p.m. CT).
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State football coach's reaction to victory formation fumble
AdvertisementAdvertisement
