Southern Dances a “Texas Two-Step” to impress Texas Southern in overtime

HOUSTON – Coach Terrence Graves said his Southern Jaguars football team completed the “Texas Two-Step” after Saturday’s miraculous 22-19 overtime victory over Texas Southern at Shell Energy Stadium.

“A hard-fought win,” Coach Graves told HBCU Legends. “Our team showed a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of courage and a lot of perseverance. It was hard to play. The situations were tough and seemed impossible, but these guys kept fighting and we came out victorious.”

It is the second time Southern has posted overtime wins against SWAC West opponents this season. “It feels wonderful. Thank God. We did it – the ‘Texas Two-Step.’ “Come on, Jags,” Graves shouted.

“We’re going to say goodbye this week and coach and teach everything we can in football,” TSU coach Cris Dishman noted in his postgame interview.

It was an unconventional triumph for a determined and resilient Jaguars football team. Graves’ squad is 2-4 overall and 2-0 in the SWAC West behind the Alcorn State Braves (4-3) and leads the division at 3-0. Texas Southern falls to 1-2 in the division and 2-4 overall.

After an incompletion by Noah Bodden on third down in the fourth quarter, Southern handed the football over to Texas Southern with 1:26 to play. Chaunzav Lewis returned the football eight yards, giving Texas Southern first-and-10 at the Tigers’ 13-yard line.

TSU scored on three runs by Athean Renfro, who lost five yards on the plays. Coach Dishman called a timeout on 4th-and-15 with 26 seconds on the clock. Jeremy Ramirez mistimed his punt and fired it into a Southern player, then Tigers tight end Charles George Jr. picked up the football and rumbled to the 16-yard line. Southern had a chance to tie or win with 18 seconds left in the contest.

On the following play, Noah Bodden completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to former Texas Southern wide receiver Quay Davis. Griffin’s extra point attempt was successful and the Jaguars tied the game at 19 points.

Texas Southern scored a three-pointer on its first possession of overtime. However, placekicker Christian Avelar missed a 41-yard field goal, giving Southern the opportunity to win the game by a score.

Bodden passed the football three times to running back Kendric Rhymes, who gained 8 yards, before sending to Joshua Griffin, who successfully kicked a 34-yard field goal for the Jaguars to escape with a 22-19 overtime victory.