DAYTONA BEACH, FL — In the span of three minutes, Jackson State football experienced a wide spectrum of emotions.
The No. 22 Tigers (6-2, 3-2 SWAC) went from being hopeful, to elated, to anxious, before ultimately ending up despondent because of their 24-21 loss to Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 3-1) at Daytona Stadium on Oct. 24.
“Had opportunities to win the game … we just didn’t execute and get it done,” Jackson State coach TC Taylor said.
The first climb in the Tigers’ emotional roller coaster was caused by a Wildcat mistake. A bad snap turned into a JSU touchdown after BCU punter Isaac Gallagher-Cheetham was penalized for illegal touching for kicking the ball out the back of his own end zone. This gave JSU possession on BCU’s 1-yard line.
JSU running back Li’Darious Pryor scored a touchdown on the next play that put JSU up 21-17, giving the Tigers their first lead of the game with 2:57 to play.
“When I looked back, it looked like the snapper skipped the ball back there,” Taylor said. “And when (Gallagher-Cheetham) kicked it out, I knew we was going to have the opportunity to get the ball on the 1-yard line, and anybody will take that.”
However, the Tigers’ ride, and chances to win, took a nose dive with just 40 seconds left when BCU put together a 75-yard, eight-play drive to regain the lead.
JSU gave up a 36-yard rush to running back Deanwar Johnson on third-and-2 that got the Wildcats across midfield. Five plays later, quarterback Tyler Jefferson connected with wide receiver Rickie Shaw II from 19 yards out for his third touchdown pass of the game.
“We had the opportunity there,” Taylor said. “Who’d have thought they’d have came back on that next drive, a couple runs and flip the field, and that’s just what they did, just the will to win right there.”
The ride didn’t end after BCU’s touchdown. JSU quarterback Jared Lockhart kept the Tigers’ hopes alive by completing a 21-yard pass to Jabari Jones to get into BCU territory and later a 13-yard pass to Nate Rembert on fourth down to keep the drive alive.
With six seconds left, JSU’s field goal unit trotted onto the field, hoping to force overtime. Making the 49-yard attempt seemed like a strong probability for freshman kicker Andrew Ivaniciuc, who’s connected from as far as 51 yards this season. However, he missed, with the wind carrying the ball wide left of the uprights.
“It’s a lot on a freshman, and that’s what I went in there and told him,” Taylor said. “'Don’t you hold your head down. You’ve been getting us out of (situations) all year long.' It’s just a tough deal. You’re going to miss some, you’re going to make some. He’s got to understand that, but he’ll be fine.”
Jackson State did not make any players available for interviews after the game.
It was JSU’s first loss to BCU since 2019 and ensured the Tigers will have their first multi-SWAC loss season since 2023. It also drops them from first to third in the SWAC East standings.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What went wrong for Jackson State football in chaotic final minutes of BCU loss