BATON ROUGE, La. — Southern University shook off early miscues and pulled away from Kentucky State Saturday, posting a 34-15 victory in the Pete Richardson Classic at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
Momentum swings and key turnovers
The Jaguars took control with a combination of turnover returns and sustained drives. A critical defensive play came in the second quarter when Tay James intercepted a Kentucky State pass and returned it for a touchdown, swinging momentum to Southern and giving the Jaguars an early lead.
"Wow. Kentucky State passes up the points. They go for it on 4th down in the redzone. Tay James intercepts it and takes it to the house for a pick six," tweeted WAFB reporter Kevin Batiste during the game.
Kentucky State capitalized on one of Southern's mistakes earlier in the half when a Southern fumble in its own end zone resulted in a safety, briefly narrowing the score. But the Jaguars answered with multiple touchdown drives before halftime and continued scoring in the second half.
Offensive execution and late-game pushes
Southern’s offense produced several sustained drives in the second half. Running back Trey Holly scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 16-yard run that extended the Jaguars’ lead in the third quarter. Receiver Christian Johnson connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Champ Davis and also hauled in a four-yard fade to Isaiah Pina just before the half, plays that helped build Southern’s advantage.
Kentucky State battled back at times. A big play came when Jaun Gainous found Tristan Thomas on a 73-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter, followed immediately by a surprise onside kick that gave the Thorobreds a brief spark. That sequence trimmed the deficit temporarily, but Southern answered on the next possession and ultimately closed the door.
Game timeline (selected moments)
- Second quarter: Southern safety against themselves after a fumble recovered and tackled in the end zone.
- Second quarter: Tay James returns an interception for a touchdown, putting Southern ahead.
- Late second quarter: Christian Johnson connects on a short touchdown to extend the lead to 14-2 at halftime.
- Third quarter: Trey Holly’s 16-yard run pushed the lead further; Southern produced consecutive quality drives.
- Third quarter: Kentucky State’s 73-yard touchdown pass to Tristan Thomas and a successful onside kick narrowed the gap, but Southern answered with more scoring.
- Fourth quarter: Trey Holly’s second rushing touchdown helped ice the game as the clock wound down.
| Team | Final |
|---|---|
| Southern | 34 |
| Kentucky State | 15 |
What the win means for Southern
The victory served as a positive start to Southern’s season and provided a strong home-opener showing at the Bluff. The Jaguars demonstrated an ability to capitalize on turnovers and finish drives in the red zone — two factors that separated the teams in this matchup.
Defensively, Southern forced pivotal errors and converted them into points, while the offense found big-play capacity through the air and on the ground. Kentucky State, meanwhile, showed explosive potential — notably on the 73-yard touchdown — but the Thorobreds could not sustain momentum long enough to overcome Southern’s scoring runs.
Looking ahead
Southern’s win will be a confidence boost as the Jaguars continue their early-season schedule. Kentucky State leaves Baton Rouge with signs of life but also with clear areas to correct, especially in red-zone decision-making and protecting the football.
Fans at A.W. Mumford saw a game that swung sharply on turnovers and a few big plays — a familiar formula in early-season college football that can set the tone for what follows.
Live coverage and play-by-play updates were shared during the game by WAFB sports reporter Kevin Batiste, who provided real-time accounts of the scoring sequence and the game-changing plays that shaped the outcome.
Final score: Southern 34, Kentucky State 15.
