Oct. 1, 2005

Final Stats

MOBILE, Ala. - MOBILE - The question begs to be asked. Is Alabama State senior Tarvaris Jackson the best quarterback in Division I-AA football right now?

Jackson is not quick to proclaim himself the No. 1 signal caller in the nation, but his play - and that of the Hornets - should lead many to take notice. After throwing for a season-high 345 yards and three touchdowns, then adding two more scores on the ground in a 45-35 win over Southern that was not as close as the score might indicate, he is definitely letting his play speak volumes.

"I don't know if I'm in a zone," said Jackson, who had a game-high 89 yards rushing to add to his passing exploits. "Right now, we're just executing very, very well on offense. We're really playing good as an offense. We're not perfect and we can definitely be better. But we're making plays."

The plays Alabama State (4-1, 4-0 SWAC East) made amounted to 550 yards in total offense - the Hornets' best total of the season and fourth straight game of at least 500 yards. ASU scored on its first three possessions of the game and had the Jaguars (1-2, 1-2) playing catch up the rest of the night.

"I thought Tarvaris had a pretty good ball game," ASU coach Charles Coe said. "That first touchdown was a running touchdown where he read the end and did what he was taught to do and took it to the house."

Jackson's 66-yard touchdown run - which came after a deft ball fake to running back Keldrick Williams and left him alone to roam down the sidelines - came two plays after Southern had taken an early 7-0 lead. A dropped punt by Brandon Averett set the Jags up at the ASU 4-yard-line and they scored on the ensuing play.

The aerial show commenced on the Hornets' next offensive series as Jackson threw his first touchdown pass of the game - a 57-yarder to Alvance Robinson - the gave ASU the lead for good. Before the quarter was over, Jackson - who was named offensive most valuable player of the game - added a 33-yard scoring strike to Lorenzo Hoffman and Southern was in a big hole.

A 1-yard touchdown plunge by Lee Cater posted ASU to a 28-14 halftime advantage and Hoffman's second touchdown reception of the game - a 6-yarder from Jackson with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter - gave the Hornets a 21-point cushion heading to the fourth quarter.

In the back of many players' minds was the fourth quarter a year earlier against Southern, when the Jaguars scored the last 21 points to win 42-41. "We put 41 on them last year, but they ended up making a comeback," said Robinson, who finished with nine catches for 181 yards and a score. "We knew this year we would have to do the same thing because they're a great team."

ASU would wedge a 23-yard field goal by Anthony Johnson and a 1-yard run by Jackson between three Southern touchdowns to produce the final score.

Among the defensive stars for ASU were Demetrius Derico (nine tackles, forced fumble) and the defensive end quartet of Tyler Thompson, Ian Kinsey, Kerry Frazier and Charles Parham (21 tackles, 4.5 sacks).