STWF Sports| BATON ROUGE, La.| September 5, 2026 — Southern University earned its first victory of the 2026 season Saturday night, using timely defensive plays and a strong second-half push to defeat Kentucky State 34-15 at A.W. Mumford Stadium in the Pete Richardson Classic.

The Jaguars improved to 1-1, while Kentucky State fell to 1-1 after entering the matchup with momentum from its season-opening win over Central State.

Kentucky State controlled much of the opening quarter, outgaining Southern 85-37 and running 18 offensive plays. The Thorobreds moved the ball effectively, but a costly turnover shifted the game’s momentum early in the second quarter.

With Kentucky State threatening inside the red zone, Southern intercepted quarterback Denim Johnson and returned the turnover 83 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score gave the Jaguars a 7-0 lead with 13:44 remaining in the half and changed the complexion of the game.

Kentucky State responded with a special teams and defensive sequence of its own. Leland Gantz delivered a 52-yard punt that pinned Southern at its 4-yard line. On the next play, the Jaguars fumbled near the goal line before recovering in the end zone, where Tray Blackmon Jr. recorded the tackle for a safety.

Southern’s Resilience in the Game

The play cut Southern’s lead to 7-2 with 5:54 left in the second quarter.

Southern answered before halftime, putting together a 65-yard scoring drive that ended with a touchdown. The Jaguars missed the extra point but still carried a 13-2 advantage into the break.

The third quarter featured the game’s most explosive stretch.

Southern extended its lead to 20-2 on a 16-yard touchdown run with 9:02 remaining in the period. The Jaguars struck again less than four minutes later with a 25-yard touchdown reception, pushing the margin to 27-2.

Kentucky State, however, refused to fold.

Jaun Gainous connected with Tristan Thomas for a 72-yard touchdown pass with 2:30 left in the third quarter. The score cut Southern’s lead to 27-9 and gave the Thorobreds a needed spark.

Kentucky State immediately followed by recovering an onside kick at its own 47-yard line.

After a Southern pass interference penalty helped extend the drive, Gainous found Jaden Hale on consecutive completions, including a 15-yard touchdown. The Thorobreds failed on the two-point conversion, leaving Southern ahead 27-15 with 1:40 remaining in the quarter.

The Jaguars responded with a decisive drive of their own, marching 55 yards in seven plays for the final touchdown of the night. The score restored control and sealed the 34-15 victory.

Despite the loss, Kentucky State finished with a game-high 378 yards of total offense, including 245 through the air. Gainous completed 17 of 31 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

Thomas provided a versatile performance, rushing for 110 yards and adding the 72-yard touchdown reception. Darius Cyprian led all receivers with eight catches for 77 yards.

Defensively, Roman Hernandez led all players with 12 tackles. Gantz was also effective in the punting game, averaging 48.0 yards on eight punts while placing five inside the 20-yard line.

For Southern, the win offered a meaningful response after a season-opening loss to Alabama State. The Jaguars capitalized on Kentucky State mistakes, created explosive scoring opportunities and showed resilience when the Thorobreds mounted a third-quarter rally.

Southern will look to build on the victory as the season continues, while Kentucky State remains on the road for an SIAC matchup against Clark Atlanta on Sept. 12.