BATON ROUGE, La. – Southern University’s football team began its quest for a rebound season with a tightly contested 3-3 tie against Mississippi Valley State University as of the end of the first quarter on august 30, 2025. The game, played at Southern’s home stadium, marks the first contest following a disappointing previous season adn offers an early test for new strategies under head coach Eric Dooley.
The Jaguars drew first blood with a 31-yard field goal from Nathan zimmer at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter, capitalizing on a botched punt return by Mississippi valley State that gave Southern possession at the Valley’s 21-yard line. Though, Mississippi Valley State quickly responded, with marko Jovistic connecting on a 47-yard field goal at the 6:07 mark, set up by a significant run from Josh Brown.The score remained tied after a missed field goal attempt by Southern.
Jalen Woods started at quarterback for Southern, leading an initial drive that ultimately stalled. The first quarter saw both teams struggle to establish a consistent offensive rhythm, with Southern’s drive ending without points after gaining a first down. The game is poised to be a defensive battle early on, with both teams prioritizing field position and minimizing mistakes.