Southern head coach Terrence Graves make clear deciding to start out and stick to Cam’Ron McCoy on an evening when the Jaguars’ passing assault was pedestrian in a 31-14 loss to NC Central on Saturday night time.
The second-year head coach admitted within the postgame presser, although with little element or context, the choice to start out the Jackson State switch as a substitute of redshirt sophomore Jalen Woods.
“We had some issues that we needed to cope with, and that’s why we made that call,” Graves mentioned, who didn’t nor was requested to additional clarify the reasoning.
Although Graves had beforehand said that the beginning quarterback can be revealed simply earlier than kickoff, a depth chart obtained by a Louisiana sports activities reporter had listed Woods because the No.1 quarterback.
The transfer to start out McCoy seemed good early after he ran for a 69-yard landing on the Jaguars’ opening drive.
Nevertheless, Southern’s passing assault couldn’t set up circulate or consistency as the sport progressed.
McCoy completed the sport by finishing 9 of 14 passes for 71 yards, dashing for 98 yards, and a landing on 9 carries.
🚀 @GeauxJags QB Cam’Ron McCoy (@camRonmccoy2) exhibits off the pace and takes it to the home! pic.twitter.com/1fuWeoeUxI
— Cricket MEAC/SWAC Problem (@MEAC_SWAC) August 24, 2025
Jalen Woods relieved McCoy with 6:12 left within the sport. He accomplished 4 of 5 passes for 21 yards.
Might Woods have appeared within the sport earlier to offer a spark?
Graves burdened that such changes are all the time collaborative. “I’ve assistant coaches and coordinators. These guys collaborated. They favored what we have been doing. They’d a sport plan,” Graves defined. “They mentioned, hey, possibly we have to heat Jalen up and get him going. However we gave Cam’Ron one other collection. We have been shifting the ball down the sphere.”
That momentum stalled after McCoy fumbled within the purple zone to stall what was a uncommon, promising second-half drive, a mistake Graves acknowledged as a turning level.
“Sadly, he received just a little careless with the soccer and turned it over. That type of took just a little wind out,” the coach mentioned.
Regardless of the turnover, Graves praised his starter’s general efficiency. “Hats off to him. He performed soccer sport. We simply have to guard the soccer,” Graves mentioned.
Graves reiterated his confidence in each quarterbacks, signaling a wholesome competitors shifting ahead. “Like I mentioned earlier than, we’ve received two actually good quarterbacks, and I’m glad with what [Cam’Ron] did tonight.”
Southern will proceed to guage each signal-callers as they put together for subsequent week’s matchup, with Graves emphasizing that the workforce’s offensive execution—and ball safety—stay the first focus.
“I’m dissatisfied in the best way that we performed, he mentioned. “We didn’t play the best way that we’re able to taking part in. And we received to go and repair some issues and get again on the drafting board so we are able to get on tempo to do what we have to do.”
