Jackson State thrashed Florida A&M 59-3 in the Orange Blossom Classic.

FAMU will attempt to clean the dust off before facing Albany State, a DII opponent, next week. Jackson State, on the other hand, will prepare for the Southern Heritage Classic, where they will face Tennessee State.

Prior to the season, many predicted the 15 Tigers to be among the favourites in HBCU play. As a result of their explosiveness last season, in addition to obtaining the country’s top recruit, many believed that they would be the frontrunners. On Sunday, JSU made it obvious that they are something exceptional.

In the annual Orange Blossom Classic, Deion Sanders’ squad dismantled Florida A&M. It wasn’t the 7-6 defensive struggle Jackson State won last year. This match was an offensive and defensive clinic put on by Deion Sanders’ group. Travis Hunter is just what he was advertised as. Last year as a freshman, Shedeur Sanders was leaps and bounds beyond what he was. This is a lethal team, and they made that clear on Sunday.

Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders had an incredible start, completing his first 17 passes. On the Tigers’ opening drive, he drove his team 69 yards in 12 plays, scoring his first of five touchdowns of the day. He connected with Shane Hooks for an eight-yard touchdown to put Jackson State up 7-0.

The Rattlers looked shaken on offense all game long, until the Tigers defense took control. After that, it was all defense for the Tigers. They didn’t give up a point until the Rattlers finally scored a field goal late in the game, and they punted away five times in a row before that.

His leg and arm both being employed surgically to cut through the FAMU defense, Shedeur and the JSU offense were also shining. It was a big 24-3 lead for his team at the half, thanks to his superior performance. At one point, he just couldn’t miss, and by halftime, he had already scored three times.

FAMU quarterback Jeremy Moussa was intercepted by Kev’Ric Wiggins on the Rattlers’ opening drive of the second half, and then Shedeur led another scoring drive, making the score 38-3 in favor of Jackson State in what seemed like a flash.

Every phase of the game was dominant for JSU as the Tigers scored in every phase in the second half. The backups finished the game off in the fourth quarter as a result of their dominance. A 59-3 rout was the result, and spectators were amazed.

In his first collegiate start, Hunter recorded a pass breakup in the initial quarter that almost resulted in an interception. Marshall ran the ball 13 times for 65 yards. On 29 of 33 pass attempts, Shedeur threw for 323 yards and five touchdowns.

Everything went right for Jackson State on a day when Moussa barely eclipsed the 100-yard passing mark and was picked off twice. The Rattlers’ offense turned the ball over four times and put up a measly 155 yards, in addition to yielding a blocked punt that was returned for six.

It’s time to panic if you’re a member of the HBCU community, because the Jackson State Tigers are on a tear. After a dominant performance to kick off the season, they look poised to sweep the SWAC once again and return to the Heritage Bowl. If 2019 was the year they arrived, then 2022 appears to be their year.

Beginning next week, Jackson State will prepare for the Southern Heritage Classic, in which they will face Tennessee State in Memphis. In the meantime, FAMU will attempt to dust off the dust and face Albany State, a DII team.