HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Jackson State rolled to a 61-15 win over Alabama A&M on its Homecoming Saturday afternoon in Southwestern Athletic Conference action from Lewis Crews Stadium.
The Tigers dominated from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.
Senior pass-rush specialist James Houston, who entered the game leading the FCS with 6.5 sacks, came through with a strip sack and rumbled for a 67-yard touchdown down the Bulldogs' sideline and the rout was on. It was JSU's first defensive touchdown of the season. JSU also finished with 10 sacks, which is a program record. AAMU was also held to only eight rushing yards.
Sophomore JD Martin scored on a 2-yard run and freshman Shedeur Sanders ended the first quarter with a six-yard touchdown pass to senior Josh Lanier and the Tigers led 20-0
AAMU (3-2, 1-2 SWAC) countered with a touchdown, however, JSU (4-1, 2-0 SWAC) quickly responded.
Sanders connected with freshman Trevonte Rucker for a 37-yard touchdown pass and hit senior Warren Newman with a 12-yard pitch-and-catch and the Tigers led 33-7 at halftime.
The Tigers' offense put the pedal to the medal in the third quarter.
Sanders found Malachi Wideman from 20 yards out for Wideman's first touchdown as a Tiger, Sanders rushed for a 29-yard touchdown and Santee Marshall ran for a 53-yard touchdown. In a blink of an eye JSU led 54-7 – with one quarter remaining.
Marshall added his second rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring outburst.
Sanders distributed the ball to six different receivers and finished 17-for-24 (70.8 percent) for 249 yards and four touchdowns, with each touchdown going to a different receiver.
Marshall was the Tigers' first 100-yard rusher of the season, and the New Orleans native gutted the Bulldogs' defense for 123 yards on 12 attempts for an average of 10.2 yards per carry.
