Prairie View A&M Stuns Jackson State 23-21 to Win SWAC Championship.
Prairie View A&M edges Jackson State 23-21 to claim SWAC title, ending Tigers’ Celebration Bowl hopes
Jackson State’s bid for a second consecutive Celebration Bowl—a game widely regarded as the HBCU national championship and one the Tigers won last season—fell short Saturday as Prairie View A&M pulled off a 23-21 victory in the SWAC Championship Game.
Jackson State (9-3, 5-1), East Division champions, earned the right to host the matchup at Veterans Memorial Stadium and entered as a slight favorite in most betting lines. Prairie View A&M (10-3, 5-1), the West Division champions, came with a chip on its shoulder and quickly imposed its will with a seven-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Cameron Peters to grab an early 7-0 lead.
The Tigers responded in the second quarter when quarterback JaCobian Morgan, known for his dual-threat ability, broke free for a 29-yard rushing touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. However, Prairie View regained momentum with a pair of short field goals by kicker Diego Alfaro, sending the Panthers into halftime ahead 13-7.
The third quarter saw Prairie View A&M extend its lead on a 42-yard Alfaro field goal to 16-7, but Jackson State refused to fold. Wide receiver Ja’Naylon Dupree—grandson of Mississippi football legend Marcus Dupree—caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Jared Lockhart to make it 16-14. Both teams exchanged touchdowns late in the quarter: Cameron Bonner’s 40-yard reception for the Panthers and Ahmad Miller’s two-yard rushing score for the Tigers set the stage for a nail-biting fourth quarter at 23-21. Neither team could find the end zone in the final frame, cementing Prairie View A&M’s first SWAC title since 2009.
Key Stats and Storylines
Jackson State’s offense faced challenges after Morgan, who had battled a foot injury earlier in the season, exited the game due to injury. Backup quarterback Jared Lockhart stepped in, completing 6-of-9 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Tigers’ rushing attack struggled without Morgan, with Travis Terrell Jr. leading with 34 yards on nine carries and Ahmad Miller adding 27 yards on 13 attempts. Nate Rembert had 80 receiving yards on four catches, while Dupree scored on one of his two receptions.
Defensively, Jackson State was led by Reid Pulliam with 14 tackles and Kam Sallis with 12. SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Quincy Ivory contributed seven tackles, while John Brown Jr. added a sack. The Tigers’ defense forced two fumbles and recorded one interception through B.J. Washington but could not fully capitalize on the turnovers.
Prairie View A&M’s offense was powered by Cameron Peters, who finished with 294 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns, despite one interception and two lost fumbles. Jyzaiah Rockwell was his primary target, hauling in four passes for 96 yards. Defensively, the Panthers were led by Darrell Starling with eight tackles, one interception, and half a sack, while Kennedy Parker added seven tackles, including one for loss. Overall, Prairie View tallied 494 total yards to Jackson State’s 244—the lowest total allowed all season by the Tigers.
What’s Next
For Jackson State, the season ends without a Celebration Bowl appearance, as SWAC teams do not participate in the FCS playoffs.
Prairie View A&M will advance to face MEAC champion South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Saturday, December 13, at 11 a.m. CT, where they will have a chance to claim the HBCU national title.
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