Texas Southern ends five-game losing streak

A 46-yard field goal with no time left on the clock gave Texas Southern a 24-21 victory over Southern at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Saturday. The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Tigers and ended their winless stretch in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Freshman kicker Miguel Arana converted the final play of the game after the Jaguars tied the score with 4:24 remaining. Texas Southern moved up the field over 36 yards to set up the kick.

Head coach Cris Dishman acknowledged the relief of finally winning a conference game. "Is this win satisfying? Yes, it is," he said. "Every time you win, you got to be satisfied with it. You know, I'm not much of a dancer, so I can't dance. But those guys are in (the locker room) dancing and having fun, and I'm happy for them." The Tigers now hold a 1-3 record in the SWAC and a 2-5 mark overall. Their next home contest is against Grambling.

Quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy, a senior who previously played for Southern, led the offense. He completed passes for 42 yards but contributed more on the ground, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts. He did not turn over the ball. Dishman noted that McCoy’s performance was sufficient to defeat his former team.

In Tallahassee, Florida, Florida A&M coach Quinn Gray addressed a mass shooting that occurred outside Bragg Memorial Stadium following his team’s 31-28 homecoming loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The incident left 11 people injured. Gray used the Monday SWAC coaches call to speak on behalf of the community. "Our prayers and our thoughts are with those families affected by the violence that happened this past weekend," he said. "Nothing good comes from this situation."

Tallahassee police arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with the shooting. The teenager faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent. Gray described the suspect’s age as a tragedy in itself. "That 15-year-old kid probably needs to be on somebody's football team, basketball team or doing something constructive with his time," he said.

Bethune-Cookman delivered another surprise victory in Week 8, defeating Jackson State 24-21 at home. The Wildcats broke a five-game losing streak against the Tigers. Tyler Jefferson threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Rickie Shaw with 36 seconds remaining to secure the win. Jackson State’s Andrew Ivaniciuc missed a 49-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds. Graduate student linebacker Stephen Sparrow led the defense with 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.

Coach Raymond Woodie emphasized that the win helps build belief in his program. "When you win, the guys start to believe," Woodie said. The Wildcats are now 3-1 in conference play. Jackson State remains 6-2 on the season and 3-2 in the SWAC.