Jackson State holds off Tennessee State 49-44
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Josh Littles returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a score, Derrick Ponder threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score and Jackson State held off Tennessee State 49-44 on Saturday in a game that featured back-to-back kickoff returns for touchdowns.
After Littles' score, Tennessee State's Chris Rowland returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
Ponder's 23-yard TD run put Jackson State (1-2) up 14-7 and Tyson Alexander scored on a 52-yard run on the next possession. Jordan Johnson's 4-yard run capped an 11-play, 96-yard drive for a 28-14 halftime lead and D.D. Bowie ran a reverse and scored from 6 yards out in the third quarter.
Johnson gained 134 yards on 22 carries. Tennessee State (1-1) outgained Jackson State 530-455 in total yards, but was outgained on the ground 338-141.
Ponder, 7 of 13 for 87 yards, hit Kyland Richey on a 16-yard fourth quarter TD pass before Tennessee State scored two straight TDs and tried an on-side kick with 1:09 left but failed to recover.
Cameron Rosendahl, 22 of 32 for 384 yards, threw two TD passes to Steven Newbold, an 18-yarder and a 19-yarder in the fourth quarter. He also threw a 56-yard scoring pass to Chris Rowland. DeMarco Corbin scored on a 14-yard run and Seth Rowland ran it in from the 1.
Newbold gained 196 yards on 10 catches and Chris Rowland had 118 on six.
Game Information
2024 Big South-OVC Association Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Southeast Missouri State | 6-2 | 9-3 |
Tennessee Tech | 6-2 | 7-5 |
UT Martin | 6-2 | 8-4 |
Tennessee State | 6-2 | 9-3 |
Lindenwood | 4-4 | 5-7 |
Western Illinois | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Gardner-Webb | 3-5 | 4-8 |
Eastern Illinois | 2-6 | 3-9 |
Charleston Southern | 0-8 | 1-11 |
2024 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Jackson State | 8-0 | 10-2 |
Alabama State | 5-3 | 6-5 |
Alabama A&M | 4-3 | 6-5 |
Florida A&M | 4-3 | 6-5 |
Bethune-Cookman | 2-6 | 2-10 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-7 | 1-11 |
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Southern | 6-1 | 7-4 |
Alcorn State | 5-3 | 6-6 |
Texas Southern | 4-4 | 5-6 |
Prairie View A&M | 3-5 | 5-7 |
Grambling | 2-5 | 5-6 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 2-6 | 3-9 |