Jackson State football (12-0, 8-0 SWAC) is one win away from its first perfect season and the program’s first Celebration Bowl victory Saturday (11 am, ABC) against North Carolina Central at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The matchup will serve as the end of the Deion Sanders era with the Tigers, with the third-season coach leaving to be the new head coach at Colorado. TC Taylor, a wide receivers coach on Sanders’ staff, was tabbed as the successor by JSU on Tuesday.
Jackson State won consecutive SWAC championships with a 43-24 victory over Southern on Dec. 3. Shedeur Sanders went 30-for-43 for 320 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. Sy’veon Wilkerson added 61 rushing yards and a TD.
CELEBRATION BOWLThree keys for Jackson State football vs. North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl
PORTAL TRANSFER5 Jackson State football players primed for transfer portal with Deion Sanders’ departure
HBCU FOOTBALLDeion Sanders to add Mississippi Valley coach Vincent Dancy to Colorado football staff | Report
The Eagles (9-2) advanced to the Celebration Bowl after beating Norfolk State on Nov. 12 to go 4-1 in the MEAC. Quarterback Davius Richard had a hand in five touchdowns for the Eagles in a 48-14 road victory.
Jackson State football vs. North Carolina Central game time, TV info
The game is scheduled for 11 am CT on ABC.
Jackson State football score vs. NC Central: Live updates from the Celebration Bowl
Fourth quarter
4:31 left: NC Central’s Latrell Collier scores from 7 yards out.
The Eagles go for two and run Philly Special. The second catch for Davius Richard today. NC Central 34, Jackson State 27.
On the TD play, Jeremiah Brown was DQd from the game for a flagrant personal foul penalty.
5:43 left: NC Central with a first and goal.
7:50 left: Shilo Sanders called for pass interference on third down to extend the NC Central drive.
12:07 left: Jackson State touchdown! Shedeur Sanders to Travis Hunter over the middle for an 18-yard TD catch.
Two-point try no good as Sanders is sacked. JSU 27, NCCU 26.
12:11 left: Shedeur Sanders is sacked for a big loss.
13:15 left: Shedeur Sanders makes a play on third down to extend the drive, and a facemask penalty gives JSU first and goal. Big sequence.
Third quarter
23 seconds left: Adrian Olivo is good from 23 yards out, and NC Central’s lead is now 26-21.
The Eagles have rushed for 213 yards so far.
4:07 left: JSU stopped on third and short, and the Tigers will punt.
NC Central takes the lead out of halftime
5:45 left: Touchdown NC Central. What a toe-tapping catch from Quentin McCall. 12-yard TD catch down the right sideline.
PAT no good. NC Central leads 23-21.
8:02 left: NCCU’s Davius Richard sneaks for a first down, and the Eagles are in scoring range.
13:06 left: JSU gets one first down and nothing else to start the second half. It’ll point.
Second quarter
JSU leads again
30 seconds left: JSU touchdown! That was a Shedeur Sanders drive. He scrambled for 17 yards to set up first and goal, then finished the drive with a 7-yard TD run.
JSU 21, NC Central 17.
3:51 left: J’Mari Taylor finishes off the NC Central drive with a 10-yard TD run. Davius Richard did the grunt work on the drive on the ground.
NC Central retakes the lead, 17-14.
10:41 left: JSU touchdown! Shedeur Sanders finds a wide open Kevin Coleman, who outraces the NCCU defense for the score. 85-yard TD catch.
JSU 14, NC Central 10.
11:49 left: Two teams trade punts.
First quarter
1:36 left: JSU’s defense gets the stop, with help from a couple of NC Central penalties.
3:59 left: Travis Hunter takes an end-around and fumbles. NC Central recovers at the JSU 31-yard line.
4:52 left: Jeremiah Williams sack. NC Central will punt.
6:27 left: Shedeur Sanders to DJ Stevens over the middle for the JSU TD. 24-yard TD pass.
PAT good. Excellent response for the Tigers. NC Central 10, Jackson State 7.
6:54 left: Shedeur Sanders runs for a first down and is hit late out of bounds. First first down of the day for the Tigers.
7:27 left: A WR reverse pass to QB Davius Richard sets up first and goal, and Richard scores on the ground on the next play.
NC Central 10, Jackson State 0.
8:49 left: NC Central runs for first downs on consecutive plays. JSU’s defense not with the intensity we’re used to yet.
9:52 left: JSU goes three-and-out and will punt. Sy’veon Wilkerson was stopped on third and short, although he didn’t have much room.
11:42 left: Nearly a Travis Hunter INT on third down. Did well breaking on the ball. NC Central’s Adrian Olivo is good from 32 yards out.
NC Central 3, Jackson State 0.
13:10 left: EJ Hicks makes a long catch ahead of Travis Hunter, and NCCU is in the red zone. 42-yard catch.
15:00 left: About ready to go in Atlanta. NC Central to receive.