Jackson State Opens Home Season Against Edward Waters in Hope Labor Day Classic
Jackson State will host Edward Waters on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium in the Hope Labor Day Classic, broadcast by HBCUGO. The game marks the Tigers’ first home game of the season and the second all-time meeting between the programs. Jackson State (1-0) enters the game following a comeback victory over Tennessee State last weekend.
The teams previously met in spring 2020, with Jackson State winning 53-0. Saturday’s game is the first of two contests against Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams for Jackson State this season.
Jackson State’s running game has been productive early this season. Nate Blount IV rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries against Tennessee State, continuing the team’s recent success of having a running back surpass 100 yards in consecutive seasons. Last year, Ahmad Miller ran for 180 yards against Hampton.
Jabari Jones and Kam Sallis earned MVP honors after the Tigers’ win. Jones caught an 88-yard touchdown pass from Jared Lockhart, the first 100-yard receiving game of the season for Jackson State. Sallis made seven tackles in the game.
Jackson State players also received weekly conference honors. Andrew Ivaniciuc kicked four field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder, to help secure the victory and was named SWAC Specialist of the Week. Keith Bass recorded six tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss, earning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Under head coach T.C. Taylor, Jackson State has a 13-3 record at home since 2023. The Tigers have won three SWAC championships, played in three Celebration Bowls, and claimed the 2024 HBCU national title. The team is 37-9 overall during Taylor’s tenure, which began in 2023.
Jackson State returns 37 players from last year’s SWAC East Division championship team and has added 56 newcomers through transfers and incoming freshmen. Veterans Stadium has hosted five of the last six SWAC Championship Games, with Jackson State appearing in four of those and winning three.
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