PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Noah Bodden is the old man of Southern’s quarterback room albeit with a young football soul.
The junior transfer had the most experience in the group which partly helped him win the starting job in preseason camp, but it wasn’t much for a player entering his fourth college season.
Saturday’s 31-24 overtime victory against Prairie View was a quantum leap for him — not so much in the numbers, but in leading Southern to victory through a lot of adversity.
“He grew up a lot today” Southern coach Terrence Graves said. “It’s a process, just like growing up and going through the different changes in life. He struggled. We’ve had our individual talks with him and told him ‘Hey, let’s go. You’ve got to be the guy who gets us through.’ He stepped up and answered the bell.”
Bodden completed 16 of 29 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns in an uneven performance. His first half numbers weren’t pretty — 5 of 13 for 74 yards with a critical fumble — but he made a handful of big throws in the second half and didn’t throw an interception.
His biggest play showed improved poise as he found Quay Davis for a 2-point conversion while under heavy pressure to tie the game with 2:32 left.
“The initial read wasn’t there,” Bodden said. “I saw somebody come free because (PVU) sent the house, an A-gap blitz. I saw my guy streaking across, and I just gave him a chance and it worked.
“I’m built for stuff like this. I’ve been through it all. I’ve been down before and made big plays to come back. I’ve got to get back to my roots and stay confident. That’s all it is. I know what I can do, my team knows what I can do. It’s a matter of doing it.”
Bodden made some timely throws, a nice flip to Kendric Rhymes for an 8-yard touchdown, Southern’s first, to make it 14-10. He came right back to Chandler Whitfield for a 41-yard score on a crossing pattern to make it 21-16.
On the tying touchdown drive he converted a third-and-7 situation with a 28-yard throw to Dupree Fuller to set up CJ Russell's 4-yard touchdown run.
Bodden’s play impressed even his own defense.
“He’s always been that player,” linebacker Derrick Williams said. “He shows up when the lights are bright. A lot of fans can see what Noah Bodden is all about. He’s a true playmaker.”
O-line shuffle
Southern made some changes in the offensive line, adding Joseph Gonzales and Chris Garcia to the starting lineup. Gonzales started at left tackle with Cameron Foster moving over to right tackle in place of Cortney Lyles. Garcia took over at right guard for D’Andre Richard with Antonio Sanders at left guard and Josh Trask at center. Richard and Lyles played reserve roles.
The line showed some improvement, helping the Jaguars to a season-best 191 yards, 162 in the second half, and allowed only one sack.
Injuries
Quarterback C’Zavian Teasett and starting safety Horacio Johnson did not dress out for the game. Teasett suffered an ankle injury last week against Jackson State. Johnson, the team’s leading tackler, has a soft tissue injury, according to Southern sports information department. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Elijah West.
Numerology
Southern leads the series 51-22 and has twice had streaks of 16 consecutive victories. . . Southern is 3-0 at Panther Stadium and has won 7 of the last 10. . . PVU coach Bubba McDowell is 13-14 overall in his third season and 1-2 vs. Southern. . . Southern is 5-1 in its last five SWAC openers. . . Southern entered the game with 882 yards passing, most in the SWAC, and passed the 1,000-yard mark.
Captains
Southern captains were running backs Kendric Rhymes and Kobe Dillon. The Jaguars won the toss and deferred the option until the second half. PVU received the opening kickoff.