Jackson State takes a overtime loss in the Celebration Bowl

Story from JSU athletics:
ATLANTA – The Peachtree City was not a charm once again for the Jackson State University football team as the Tigers lost 41-34 in overtime to North Carolina Central in the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

QB Shedeur Sanders completed 30 of 40 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-tying 19-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter as time expired in regulation. Alejandro Mata’s extra point sent the game into overtime. However, JSU was unable to tie the score after North Carolina Central scored first in the extra period.

The Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ era concludes with a 27-6 record, two consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, 17 consecutive conference wins, 20 straight wins over league teams, and a 23-3 mark over the last two seasons.

After facing its largest deficit of the season at 10-0 in the first quarter, Jackson State went to work. Driving 64 yards in only four plays, Sanders’ 24-yard TD pass to TE D.J. Stephens brought the deficit to 10-7 with 6:28 to play in the opening period.

JSU (12-1) took the lead on the first drive of the second quarter. An 85-yard scoring pass from Sanders to Kevin Coleman Jr. capped a three-play, 96-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 14-10 lead with 10:41 to play in the period.

After NCCU (10-2) regained the lead, JSU took it back just before halftime. A nine-play, 85-yard drive ended with Sanders’ seven-yard TD scamper to give the Tigers a 21-17 lead they would take to the break.

Trailing 26-21 heading into the fourth quarter, Sanders drove the Tigers back into the lead. Sparked by a 38-yard kickoff return by Coleman, the Tigers marched 45 yards in 11 plays as Sanders connected with Hunter on an 18-yard scoring pass to give the Tigers a 27-26 lead with 11:25 remaining.

North Carolina Central regained the lead with 4:31 remaining, setting up the dramatic game-tying drive for JSU. Moving 81 yards in 15 plays, the Tigers got big plays on a pair of fourth-down conversions, including the 19-yard TD strike from Sanders to Hunter in the corner of the end zone near the Tigers’ bench to send the game into overtime.

Coleman had 262 all-purpose yards (seven receptions, 127 yards, 1 TD; six kickoff returns, 125 yards) in his best game as a Tiger. Shane Hooks caught seven passes for 70 yards, and Hunter caught four passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

LB Aubrey Miller Jr. (11 tackles, one forced fumble) and DT Jeremiah Williams (10 tackles 1.0 sack) led the defensive effort.