On third-and-goal from just inside the two-yard line, Irv Mulligan took the handoff from quarterback Jacobian Morgan and plowed his 205-pound body into a helpless South Carolina State defender who attempted a goalline tackle.
But the bruising back — a sixth-year senior — pushed through for his second touchdown of his final collegiate game that put Jackson State ahead 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
The score capped a 10-play, six-minute drive that was symbolic of the way JSU had dominated and dispirited S.C. State en route to a 28-7 win on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 36,823. The victory captured the program’s first Celebration Bowl win in three tries and the first Black College National title since 1996.
Jackson State (12-2) was the aggressor, and at times, too much from the outset. An example of that occurred following a first-quarter South Carolina State punt when SWAC Freshman of the Year Travis Terrell weaved his way down the field on what was thought to be an electric 66-yard TD.
But the return score was taken off the board due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty committed by Allen Walker. Jackson State didn’t score on the offensive possession but established right away what kind of game would be played.
And that was symbolized by one of the great drives in Celebration Bowl history. It started ironically enough on a misfire by Morgan on the first play and then a fumble by the quarterback on the second snap after he was sacked by Bulldogs defensive lineman Josh Baker.
The Syracuse transfer proceeded to complete a pass for 13 yards on third down that kept the drive alive. The next inflection point came on fourth down at the Tigers’ 41-yard line. T.C. Taylor decided to go for it, and Mulligan bulldozed his way for a six-yard gain.
From that point, Jackson State ran another six plays that were capped off by a two-yard Ermani Matthews TD to put the Tigers up 7-0. When it was done, JSU used up 9:36 on the clock over 19 plays.
For the game, Morgan threw for 219 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception. Mulligan rushed for 75 yards on 25 attempts, while Joanes Fortilien hauled in a pair of touchdown receptions.
WATCH YOUR HEAD!!#GuardTheeYard #GoTigers pic.twitter.com/ozezOK60wE
— Jackson State Football (@gojsutigersfb) December 14, 2024
South Carolina State (9-3), which had 23 days in between games, seemingly could not mentally or physically recover from that epic Jackson State drive.
HBCU Player of the Year Eric Phoenix and the high-scoring SC State offense just could get nothing going. The Benedict College transfer went 9 of 21 for 114 yards and a rushing TD and was benched in favor of backup Ryan Stubblefield to start the third quarter before eventually returning.