Panthers make it 4 straight wins over rival
QB Morton accounts for 4 TDs as offense finishes on high note
PRAIRIE VIEW — Prairie View A&M’s offense has gotten untracked over its last two games. Specifically, quarterback Jalen Morton has been a handful for opposing defenses.
On Saturday afternoon at Panther Stadium, Morton made plays with his arm and legs, directing a unit that was relentless. Morton accounted for four touchdowns in limited play during the Panthers’ 60-14 rout of Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Texas Southern in both teams’ season finale.
“I knew it was a game that we had to come out and play our best,” first-year Panthers coach Eric Dooley said. “It was a positive atmosphere, a way to send our seniors out.
“That was a way of us leading to next year. We have to keep that momentum as we go.”
The offensive onslaught made it the first time the Panthers (5-6, 4-3) have scored more than 60 points three times in a season. And the 46-point margin of victory is the largest in the series for a Prairie View win. Clicking on all cylinders
Prairie View excelled in all phases. Special teams and defense also got in the scoring. Ju’Anthony Parker returned a punt 83 yards for a score, and Will Skinner, a senior safety from Spring, had a 23-yard pick-six, the first of his two interceptions.
Aaron Townsend also collected an interception. The Panthers’ defense was just as impactful as the offense, coming up with six sacks and 12 tackles for loss. The Panthers outgained the Tigers in yards, 579-185.
“I’m not surprised,” said Skinner, who concluded his college career 4-0 against TSU. “We were supposed to be doing that. We’re picking it back up. They’ve never beaten me.”
In beating TSU a fourth straight year, Prairie View won for the 12th time in the last 15 matchups with the Tigers.
For Morton, a redshirt junior, he had mixed emotions following the game.
“Excited and sad, at the same time,” Morton said. “Excited we won the game, the last game with the seniors. Sad, it’s the last game with the seniors I came in with and had a great bond with.”
The decisive Prairie View victory gave Dooley a win in his introduction to the heated — but respectful — rivalry.
Morton, who was replaced in the early minutes of the third quarter with a comfortable lead of 26 points, scored on runs of 66, 9 and 5 yards and threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tristen Wallace. Morton passed for 185 yards, completing 18 of 26 passes, and rushed for 111 yards on 10 carries.
Morton’s backup, freshman Trazon Connley, completed all 12 of his passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
Last week, in a 66-13 trouncing of Alabama State, Morton was involved in six touchdowns and 486 yards. Six weeks ago, the offense struggled mightily in a 38-0 home defeat to Southern.
“It was a team thing.” Morton said. “Defense stopped them and helped the offense get the ball back. The offense is predicated on tempo, and that’s what we do. We score, and we score.” Tough ending for Tigers
Little went right for TSU (2-8, 2-5) under third-year Tigers coach Michael Haywood. But TSU linebacker Julian Marcantel had a redzone interception of Morton and linebacker Sean Jones totaled 15 tackles — nine solo. Tren’Davian Dickson had seven receptions for 87 yards. Bobby Hartzog, the SWAC’s leading receiver, did not play for the Tigers because of injury.
The Panthers piled up 343 firsthalf yards in building a 40-14 halftime lead. Morton had 192 passing and 101 rushing yards over the first two quarters.
TSU was gifted a touchdown in the final minute of the first half. A high snap on a Panthers punt resulted in Kenterious Walker recovering a fumble in the end zone.