Two called-back touchdowns couldn’t stop the Jackson State football team from getting revenge over South Carolina State and winning the Celebration Bowl for the first time in program history.
The Tigers looked to have been the first to crack the scoreboard when standout freshman Travis Terrell, Jr. returned a first-quarter punt into the end zone. However, an unnecessary roughness penalty on the return team prevented the score from happening.
After back-to-back punts from each squad, Jackson State quarterback Jacobian Morgan found Joanes Fortilien in the back corner of the end zone in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead. Irv Mulligan, who broke Walter Payton’s single-season rushing record during last Saturday’s SWAC championship, scored from one yard out to make it 14-0 with a little over five minutes left to play in the first half.
South Carolina State quarterback Ryan Stubblefield tried for a deep pass in the waning seconds of the half, but it was picked off by Antony Petty and returned 90 yards into the end zone. But another penalty, this time holding on the return team, canceled out the big play. Jackson State went into the locker room with a 14-0 lead over the MEAC champions.
The third quarter was a stout period defensively by both teams, with no scoring from either sideline. In the fourth quarter, as Jackson State tried to go up three possessions, Mulligan found the end zone once again to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead.
South Carolina State responded with a score of their own on a three-yard run by backup quarterback Eric Phoenix to bring the score to 21-7. Insurance was then provided when Morgan found Fortilien again with less than five minutes to play. The 14-yard score put Jackson State up 28-7 – a score that would stick as the Tigers were crowned HBCU national champions.
Fortilien finished with two scores on seven receptions with 55 yards. Fellow wideout Isaiah Spencer was explosive with three receptions for 123 yards as Morgan rounded out the championship-winning appearance with 15 of 21 passing for 233 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Mulligan led the running backs with 69 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
Defensively, the Tigers continued a season-long theme of dominance. Apart from the one score allowed, the unit sacked South Carolina State’s quarterback three times with six tackles for loss and two interceptions.
The victory was even sweeter for Taylor and company as Jackson State lost two consecutive Celebration Bowls – one of which was against South Carolina State – under former head coach Deion Sanders in 2021 and 2022.