Southern Secures Overtime Victory Against Prairie View in Conference Opener
PRAIRIE VIEW, TX – In a thrilling overtime showdown, the Southern University Jaguars rallied from a sluggish first half to defeat Prairie View A&M 31-24, kicking off their SWAC conference campaign with a dramatic win at Panther Stadium (AW Mumford West). After trailing at halftime, the Jaguars came out in the second half with renewed intensity, eventually taking control in overtime.
"That’s what we’re built on, going from good to great," said linebacker Derrick Williams. "Bend, don’t break. When our backs are against the wall, we come out swinging." Head coach Terrence Graves echoed that sentiment: "The guys fought hard. At halftime, I told them we’ve got 30 minutes left, and it’s up to them to decide how they want to be remembered."
Quarterback Noah Bodden led the offensive effort, completing 16 of 29 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns while connecting with nine different receivers. Although Southern struggled to establish the run in the first half, they turned it around in the second behind the rushing trio of Kobe Dillon, Kendric Rhymes, and CJ Russell, who combined for 186 of the Jaguars' 209 rushing yards. Bodden’s efficiency in spreading the ball and the team's strong ground game fueled the Jaguars' resurgence.
Southern’s defense was crucial to the victory, with redshirt freshman Herman Brister III leading the way with a career-high 11 tackles and a tackle for loss. Linebacker Jamarlo Campbell contributed nine tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Joshua Tate added eight tackles. Jelani Davis and Derrick Williams each tallied seven tackles, with Davis adding three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 14 yards. The defense held Prairie View to under 200 passing yards for the fourth consecutive game, reinforcing their dominance on that side of the ball.
The Jaguars outgained Prairie View on the ground, totaling 209 rushing yards compared to the Panthers’ 109. Both teams were closely matched in the passing game, with Southern finishing with 189 passing yards to Prairie View’s 193. Penalties impacted both teams, with Southern accruing 110 penalty yards and Prairie View 105. Despite the challenges, Southern’s resilience on defense and their ability to control the game on the ground ultimately sealed the overtime victory.
Following the win, Southern will have a bye week before returning to action on October 5, when they face Nicholls State at A.W. Mumford Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 6:03 PM and will be broadcast live on the Jaguar Sports Network.
