7,224 spectators witnessed Prairie View defeat Jackson State, 30-27 to capture its first winning season since 1976. With the win, the Panthers move to a record of 6-3 overall, and 5-3 in the conference. After the game, head coach Henry Frazier III said, “We are 6-3, we are winners, no one can take that away from us, PV is back.”
In the first quarter, Prairie View’s defense gave up an early touchdown, but the extra point attempt was blocked. Still in the first with 2:51 left on the clock, the Prairie View defense retaliated and recorded a safety upon Jackson State. At the end of the first, the score was 6-2.
In the second quarter, Jackson State came out scoring with a touchdown and extra point at the 14:29 mark. Prairie View’s offense quickly rallied up, and lit up the scoreboard for three touchdowns during the second. The first was a 32-yard pass from Mark Spivey to Anthony Weeden; the second to Joe Townsend for 35 yards, and the third went to Shaun Stephens for 20 yards. At the end of the first half the score was 23-13 Prairie View.
With 1:29 left in the third, Jackson State fought back with an 11-yard touchdown pass that brought the game in a closer reach, 23-20. The Panthers tried, but couldn’t draw up any points on the scoreboard during the third quarter.
Determined to win, the Panthers put up another score attempting to put the game out of reach with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Spivey to Townsend. Jackson State scored again on a four-yard run, but during their next drive, Chris Adingupu snatched the Jackson State pass out of the air to seal the victory for Prairie View. The final score of the game was 30-27, in the favor of Prairie View. Also with the win, the Panthers prolonged Jackson State in clinching the SWAC eastern division title.
Offensive accolades go to Mark Spivey who was 8-19 for 180 yards and four touchdowns, and Joe Townsend with two touchdowns, and two catches for 99 yards.
Defensive accolades go to Zach East with 19 tackles, Jon Johnson with two sacks, and Chris Adingupu with an interception.
Coach Frazier III also said, “A lot of people will go around and celebrate play-off games, and bowl games, but to the Prairie View community and team, this win means more to us.” The Panthers will have their final home game Nov. 17 against Alabama A&M on Blackshear Field at 4 p.m.