The game everyone was waiting to see between Jackson State and Prairie View A&M was played with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship on the line. Jackson State had ambitions of returning to Atlanta, GA, to defend its HBCU National Championship crown against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion, whom they would have faced for a third time in five years. Prairie View A&M Panthers, led by their new Head Football Coach, Tremaine Jackson, had other plans. The Panthers brought the fight to Jackson State, proving they would not be denied in this game.
The aggressiveness in this game for 60 minutes between these two teams saw Prairie View A&M Panthers come out victorious. The Panthers quarterback, Cameron Peters, showed his name belonged alongside the other great quarterbacks in the SWAC this season after the remarkable show he put on in this Championship game. Peters was named the SWAC Championship Offensive Player of the Game, completing 17 out of 28 passes for 294 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Peters had 24 rushing attempts for 100 yards. Panthers receiver Jyzaiah Rockwell had 4 receptions for 96 yards, and Cameron Bonner caught the 40-yard touchdown pass thrown by Cameron Peters in the game.
Jackson State rushing attack wasn’t as prevalent as it had been all season. Ranked third in the Football Championship Series (FCS) in rushing, averaging over 253.6 rushing yards per game, it was held to 84 yards on 27 rushing attempts. Tigers quarterback Jacobian Morgan went out of the game with a foot injury in the second quarter after scoring a 29-yard rushing touchdown. Freshman quarterback phenom Jared Lockhart got the Tigers’ offense moving and tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Naylon Dupree. The tigers had a chance to cut the lead to 1 point, but Prairie View A&M blocked the extra point.
Jackson State forced a fumble late in the game with an opportunity to drive the ball down the field to kick the game-winning field goal. Prairie View A&M’s defense stood strong, preventing the Tigers’ offense from moving the ball down the field. Prairie View A&M won the game 23-21, moving on to play South Carolina State University in the Celebration Bowl.