With everyone playing at least three games, we have learned that two teams are really good, we still have to see how everyone else truly looks in conference play, and a few coaches are on the proverbial hot seat, with no pun intended to what happened in Jackson this past weekend.
Jackson State, North Carolina Central, and Hampton are the only unbeatens left, six schools are still in search of their first win, and who would’ve thought that Prairie View A&M would be on top of the SWAC’s west Division and Southern is at the bottom after Eric Dooley left Texas for Baton Rouge?
After all of the highlights (and lowlights) from this past weekend, here are my top five takeaways from Week 3 in HBCU FCS Football.
1. JSU Scorches Grambling
For the first time this season, Jackson State’s defense would give up a touchdown. They would eventually give up three, but those scores and a 41-yard field goal still wouldn’t be enough for Grambling as they would fall to Jackson State 66-24 in the W.C. Gorden Classic.
After outscoring GSU 45-7 in the second half, JSU would amass a minimum of 410 yards of offense for the third time this season. This week, they would toll up 629 total yards on the Bayou Bengals.
Shedeur Sanders would account for a career-high six touchdowns — four passing and two rushing, also a career-high for the sophomore QB. He would eventually complete 21 passes on 31 attempts for 357 yards, five yards shy of his career high.
For the second time this season, RB Sy’Veon Wilkerson and WR Dallas Daniels would lead JSU in rushing and receiving yards, respectively. Wilkerson gained 141 yards and scored two touchdowns on 23 carries while Daniels would score three times and tally 120 yards on seven receptions.
2. NCCU’s Historic Start
It pains me as an Aggie to say this out loud. NCCU proved to be a legitimate title contender this past weekend with their 45-27 road victory over No. 25 New Hampshire.
Not only were the Eagles offense able to compile 399 total yards, led by QB Davius Richard (339 total yards, three touchdowns), they converted on 12-of-15 third down attempts. With a conversion rate of almost 70% and 30 total third-down conversions, NCCU is currently second in the nation in both statistical categories.
After defeating a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since 2016 and improving to 3-0 for the first time in their Division I era (since 2008), the Eagles are No. 25 in the latest STATS Perform national poll.
Oh yeah, NCCU has won six straight games dating back to last season – now the longest active winning streak in the nation.
3. Big OOC Wins
Alcorn State became the first SWAC program to defeat McNeese in football, as the Braves ended the conference’s 15-game losing streak to the Cowboys thanks to a 30-19 victory.
Alcorn State wasn’t the only HBCU to earn a big out-of-conference win this past weekend. Congratulations go out to Damon Wilson on earning his first win as Morgan State’s head coach, as his Bears defeated Sacred Heart 24-9 in Baltimore. Along with limiting SHU to 60 yards rushing, Morgan State held the Pioneer offense to 2-of-14 on third downs and stopped them on all five of their fourth down conversion attempts.
Led by RB Alfonzo Graham, who finished with 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes, the Bears combined for 148 yards on the ground and two scores on 34 carries.
4. Bison Beatdown in The Big Apple
After a slow start, the Bison would eventually have a strong second half, scoring 31 unanswered points in Howard’s 31-0 shutout win over Morehouse at MetLife Stadium in the HBCU/New York Classic.
Not only was the first win of the season for the Bison, but this would also be Larry Scott’s second shutout ever as head coach of Howard.
For the third time in four contests, the Bison would rack up at least 127 total yards on the ground, with rushing touchdowns from RBs Jarrett Hunter (2yds) and Eden James (51yds), with all-conference WR Antoine Murray coming down with 116 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
5. Tiger Surprise in AggTown
Hmmm. What did I say last week in my preview of Texas Southern vs. Southern?
“(TSU QB Andrew) Body will have to contend with a Jags front seven” and “the SWAC’s second-worst scoring defense will have to find a way to slow down the conference’s second-best scoring offense.”
Well, both would happen at the Arlington Showdown.
Behind Body’s 225 total yards and two touchdowns, TSU would beat Southern in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 11 seasons 24-0, shutting out the Jags for the first time since 1971 and its first official shutout since 2016.
