Entering its game against Florida A&M, Jackson State football had forced the third-least turnovers in the SWAC.
They’d recovered four fumbles but only managed to intercept two passes.
That changed when the Tigers (6-1, 3-1 SWAC) faced Florida A&M (2-5, 1-2) at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17. They forced five Rattlers turnovers in the 27-17 win.
“I’ve been emphasizing, I’ve been stressing it,” JSU coach T.C. Taylor said. “We’ve got to take the football out of the air. We’ve got to put the football on the ground when their team is carrying it, and they did that today. … When you’re at this point of the year, turnovers matter. ... Five turnovers are great. I'm going to enjoy my evening. I guarantee that.”
Defensive back B.J. Washington set the tone for turnovers on the first drive when he intercepted FAMU quarterback Armond Parker near midfield. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty knocked 15 yards off Washington’s return, but JSU still started its drive deep in FAMU territory at the 23.
JSU quarterback Caron Tyler scored on an 8-yard rushing touchdown five plays later to give JSU the first points of the game.
Washington had another interception in the fourth quarter at FAMU’s 34.
“God just blessed me with the opportunity, and I did my best to fulfill it,” Washington said. “That’s all I can do.”
JSU recovered a fumble on a punt in the second quarter for the Tigers’ second turnover of the day.
In the fourth quarter, defensive lineman Terrance Hibbler Jr. recovered a fumble by Parker that gave JSU the ball on the Rattlers’ 29. Again, the offense capitalized to score a touchdown that gave JSU a 27-17 lead with 9:49 to go.
“We’re going to lean on the defense, the defense is going to lean on us,” said running back Nate Blount IV, who scored the final touchdown. “And when they give us the ball, we’re going to make something work with it. That’s just how we play.”
The final turnover came with 1:34 remianing. It was an interception in the end zone by freshman defensive back Mikey Johnson – the son of men’s basketball coach Trey Johnson – who Washington emphasized is “going to be special” as a football player.
“I told (defensive coordinator Torenzo) Quinn, I think on Wednesday, I said, ‘Get Mikey in the game. He’s going to get an interception,’” Taylor said. “Here’s what’s crazy though, I didn’t even know he was in the game until he was catching it, and I just went crazy. …
"His dad was more excited than him. Trey picked me up off (my) feet. But they know how hard Mike works. He takes it serious whether he’s on scout team or he’s down there with the defense, so just happy for that young man.”
Taylor attributed the team’s success in forcing turnovers to some newly implemented schemes and players like linebacker Carmello Jones putting pressure on Parker in the pass rush.
Even though, he wasn’t directly responsible for creating any of them, Jones took pleasure in being part of a group that accomplished five turnovers.
“It’s amazing,” Jones said. “All week, we’ve been preaching let’s get more takeaways and let’s get more violent, so to see that actually come to life, I can only be happy with it.”
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: How Jackson State football coach predicted last of 5 forced turnovers in FAMU win