The Celebration Bowl is in its seventh year and what Jackson State is attempting to do is to be the second team from the SWAC to win the Celebration Bowl. The North Carolina Central Eagles are attempting to win their first Celebration Bowl game in their second appearance from the MEAC.
The Celebration Bowl is an FCS Bowl game between the Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). These two Division 1 conferences are made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The game is held annually in Atlanta, GA and the first year was in 2015.
CELEBRATION BOWL HISTORY
The North Carolina A&T Aggies of the MEAC won four out the first five games and three out of the four victories came against the Alcorn State Braves of the SWAC. The other win came against the Grambling State Tigers of the SWAC. The Grambling State Tigers are the only team from the SWAC to win the Celebration Bowl by defeating the North Carolina Central Eagles 10-9 in the 2016 edition.
The 2021 edition featured the South Carolina State Bulldogs of the MEAC versus the Jackson State Tigers of the SWAC. The Bulldogs won the game 31-10 continuing the dominance of the MEAC over the SWAC and increasing the conference record to 5-1 overall.
NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL EAGLES KEYS TO VICTORY
The MEAC Champion NCCU Eagles come into the game with QB Davius Richard named Offensive Player of the Year. QB Richard guided his offense to average almost 40 points a game and three times they scored over 50 points. He also leads the team in rushing with close to 800 yards for the season. This high-powered offense averages close to seven yards per play.
The offense has some other weapons like WR EJ Hicks who has over 500 yards receiving with seven touchdowns. WR Devin Smith who tacked on 496 yards receiving with six touchdowns. Both wide receivers average over 15 yards per catch.
The MEAC Champion also has the Defensive Player of the Year DB Khalil Baker he is third on the team with 51 tackles. DB Baker also leads the team with four interceptions which is also second in the conference. DB Manny Smith leads the team with 55 tackles. LB Max U’Ren is second on the team with 52 tackles.
The Eagles defense only gives up 20 points a game. The defense only gave up 28 touchdowns, 15 through the air and 13 on the ground. They hold the opposing offenses to under 40% on third and fourth down conversions.
The Eagles offense has scored 55 touchdowns 30 rushing and 25 passing. In a championship game there will always be a player that steps up seemingly out of nowhere to be a star on this stage. We will have to wait and see who becomes the MVP of the championship game.
JACKSON STATE TIGERS KEYS TO VICTORY
The SWAC Champion JSU Tigers come into the game with QB Shedeur Sanders named Offensive Player of the Year in the SWAC. QB Sanders guided his offense to average 38 points per game and four times they scored over 40 points. Once they scored over 50 points and once over 60 points.
This high-powered offense average six yards per play. RB Sy’veon Wilkerson ran for over 1100 yards and had nine touchdowns on the ground. WR Shane Hooks has over 700 yards receiving with 10 touchdowns. WR Dallas Daniels has over 650 yards receiving with six touchdowns. WR Kevin Coleman tacked on over 300 yards receiving with two touchdowns and he was named SWAC Freshman of the Year.
The SWAC Champion also has the Defensive Player of the Year LB Aubrey Miller Jr. who leads the team with 106 tackles. S Cam’Ron Silmon Craig is second on the team with 60 tackles and two interceptions. DL Justin Ragin leads the team with 10 sacks and had 38 tackles as well.
The Tigers defense only gives up on average a meager 11 points a game. The defense only gave up 15 touchdowns all season eight rushing and seven passing. They hold the opposing offenses to under 30% on third downs and less than 40% on fourth downs conversions.
The Tigers have scored 59 touchdowns with 38 passing ,16 rushing and five by way of defense or special teams. In a championship game there will always be a player that steps up seemingly out of nowhere to be a star on this stage. We will have to wait and see who becomes the MVP of the championship game.
COACH TURNER
The Virginia native is a second-generation Eagle as both of his parents are NCCU graduates. Coach Turner graduated from NCCU in 1997. His coaching career began in 1999 at Delaware State University and he was named defensive backs coach. His next position he found continued success at NCCU and helped them win two CIAA championships in 2005 and 2006. He was also on the staff as Grambling State won the SWAC championship in 2008. Coach Turner is having his best season since becoming the Head Coach in 2018 and this year was named MEAC Coach of the Year.
COACH PRIME
This game will be the last game that Coach Prime will have at Jackson State. He was named for the second year in a row SWAC Coach of the Year. Coach Prime will always be a part of the SWAC because he left Jackson State better than he found it. He brought attention to HBCUs in a way that only a person can that did not attend a HBCU. It is up to the graduates of the HBCUs to work together to uplift each of the schools like the generations have done in the past.
I am sure it was not easy to form schools for recently freed people that were not allowed to read and write in previous generations, but it was done. I am sure it was not easy to send an only son or daughter to a school out of the parents’ watchful eye, but it was done. I am sure it was not easy to see a man secure sponsorship and bring attention to a league that was perceived invisible, but it was done. I am sure it was not easy to achieve success in such a short amount of time, but it was done.
Coach Prime did not pave the way he just cleared the way for the next great coach in the great history and bright future of HBCUs. we are not done. Thank you Coach Prime and we wish you continued success in your coaching career.
THE GAME
This will be a true Heavyweight battle between two schools that would love to hold the belt that eluded both of them the first time they were on this stage. The defense will definitely play a part in this one although there are so many offensive stars it will come down to a 4th quarter sack or interception.
The game will be televised on December 17, 2022, at 12:00pm EST on ABC
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