What Jackson State football coach TC Taylor said to spark 31-point second half vs FAMU
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
TALLAHASSEE — Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor had a simple message for his team at halftime against Florida A&M in Week 10.
The Tigers led by a touchdown at the break at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Nov. 1 but had largely struggled to move the ball and put points on the board.
“I told them to get off their ass, and let’s go finish this game,” Taylor said of his halftime message. “… We wasn’t playing our level of football, and I thought we allowed (FAMU) to hang around. That’s what happened last weekend to us (in loss to Grambling State). … But they came out and responded to what I told them.”
Jackson State (6-2, 4-1 SWAC) went from trading punts with the Rattlers (3-5, 2-2) – the two teams combined for eight in the first half – to outscoring them 31-13 in the second half of the Tigers’ 41-16 win.
In addition to Taylor motivating his players at halftime, he and his staff also made adjustments on the field that turned the game around for the Tigers.
Notably, Taylor said he “trimmed the fat,” slimming down the playbook for freshman quarterback Jared Lockhart, who got the start with JaCobian Morgan out due to injury.
Lockhart finished 5-for-10 on passing for 104 yards and one touchdown. The score was a 42-yard pass to Nate Rembert in the end zone to cap JSU’s first drive of the second half.
“I thought we put a little too much on Jared earlier,” Taylor said. “And we came in there and we just recognized about eight to 10 plays that he can go out there and execute.”
JSU turned FAMU over and got the ball back quickly after Rembert’s touchdown. The Tigers scored another touchdown, this time picking up all the drive’s yardage, including the 6-yard touchdown, on running plays.
Running back Ahmad Miller says it took Lockhart “turning it on” for JSU’s offense to get going on the ground.
“We know when that quarterback, Jared, starts clicking, it’s going to be scary for the defense,” Miller said. “So, the run game, it was there, and then everything else opened up, and he started clicking, and everything was gold from there.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@gannett.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson State football coach’s halftime speech sparks win vs FAMU
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos