Author: Jack Culberson
On December 17 Jackson State and North Carolina Central faced each other in the Cricket Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Both JSU and NCCU are HBCUs that won their respective conferences. This game was amazing and easily has been one of the best bowl games so far. In the end North Carolina Central won 41-34 in overtime. Let’s take a closer look at what happened in this game.
To start the game, North Carolina Central received the ball and they were able to get the early lead as Adrian Olivo converted a 32 yard field goal at the end of their drive. On JSU’s first drive they went three and out and punted. On the Eagle’s next possession they scored a touchdown after 4 plays and 67 yards as Davius Richard scored on a 4 yard touchdown rush. NCCU was now up 10-0. The Tigers were able to respond almost immediately after a 4 play 64 yard touchdown drive where Shedeur Sanders connected with DJ Stevens for 24 yards and a touchdown. NCCU punted on their next possession. JSU fumbled the ball when they got it back and the Eagles’ Manny Smith recovered. NCCU could not capitalize on the turnover however as their possession ended in a punt. The first quarter came to a close as JSU had the ball.
The second quarter started with JSU punting. NCCU punted on their next possession as well. On their next possession, JSU scored a touchdown after 3 plays and 96 yards. Shedeur Sanders completed a pass to Kevin Coleman Jr. for 85 yards and touchdown to put the Tigers up 14-10. NCCU was able to retain their lead after an 11 play 75 yard drive that resulted in a touchdown. J’mari Taylor rushed for a 10 yard touchdown to end the drive and to put the Eagles up 17-14. Before the end of the first half, Jackson State marched 85 yards in 9 plays to score a touchdown before halftime. Shedeur Sanders rushed for a 7 yard score to put JSU up 21-17 before half. Then NCCU kneeled the ball to send the game to halftime.
Jackson State received the ball to start the second half and they punted at the end of their drive. On NCCU’s first possession of the second half, they went 87 yards in 12 plays to score a touchdown. Davius Richards completed a 12 yard pass to Quentin McCall to make the score 23-21 because the PAT was missed. JSU punted after getting the ball back. NCCU made a 21 yard field goal on their next drive to go up 26-21. The third quarter ended in the middle of Jackson State’s next possession.
To start the fourth quarter, JSU completed a 55 yard drive in 10 plays as Shedeur Sanders found Travis Hunter for an 18 yard touchdown, but they missed the two-point conversion so they were up 27-26. NCCU was then able to put together an 11 play 73 yard drive that put them ahead with 4 minutes left in the game. Latrell Collier ran for a 7 yard touchdown and then Davius Richard caught the two-point conversion to put the Eagles up 34-27. Jackson State needed to score a touchdown to stay in the game, and with 7 seconds left on the clock on 4th & 10 Shedeur Sanders found Travis Hunter for a 19 yard touchdown to send the game into overtime.
North Carolina Central had the ball first in overtime and they were able to score a touchdown after 4 plays as Davius Richard rushed for another touchdown. Jackson State then had to score a touchdown to send the game into a second overtime, but they were unable to score. North Carolina Central had won the Celebration Bowl 41-34.
North Carolina Central had ended their great season with a remarkable bowl win. Celebration Bowl MVP Davius Richard had an amazing game with 175 yards passing and a touchdown as well as 97 yards rushing with two touchdowns. NCCU played an amazing game and this was definitely a big win for the program.
Jackson State was not able to get a win for coach Deion Sanders’s last game, but they still played great. A lot of the players that are coming to Colorado with Deion played amazing like his son Shedeur Sanders had 349 yards passing and 4 touchdowns. They were not able to finish their undefeated season, but they still played amazing.