Texas Southern is no longer the only team without a Southwestern Athletic Conference win.

The Tigers found a way to outlast Southern 24-21 during homecoming at Reliant Stadium in Houston, snapping a five-game losing streak.

After the Jaguars tied the game with 4:24 remaining, Texas Southern (2-5, 1-3 SWAC) marched 36 yards and watched freshman kicker Miguel Arana bury a 46-yard field goal as time expired.

Coach Cris Dishman, who assumed defensive play-calling responsibilities for the first time this season, explained how excited his players were.

“Is this win satisfying? Yes, it is,” he said after the contest. “Every time you win, you got to be satisfied with it. You know, I'm not much of a dancer, so I can't dance. But those guys are in (the locker room) dancing and having fun, and I'm happy for them.”

Texas Southern quarterback Cam’Ron McCoy did enough to beat Southern (3-4, 1-3), his former team. While the senior had only 42 yards passing, he ran for 71 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts and didn’t have a turnover.

Dishman said he’s comfortable with celebrating immediately afterwards but that players’ focus is now on the next game against Grambling at home as it tries to climb out of the bottom of the SWAC West.

“We still have a lot of games ahead of us to win,” he said. “It's just one of the games that we have to win, and we won this one. Now we got to go on to next week and win.”

Florida A&M coach on recent tragedy

After FAMU coach Quinn Gray recapped his team’s 31-28 homecoming loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, he used his opening remarks on Monday’s SWAC coaches call to address the mass shooting outside Bragg Memorial Stadium that left 11 people injured.

“Our prayers and our thoughts are with those families affected by the violence that happened this past weekend, and ultimately we have to find a way to make sure that you know we stop with the senseless hurting of ourselves as a community,” the first-year coach said. “Nothing good comes from this situation.”

The police in Tallahassee, Florida, arrested a 15-year-old boy who faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent.

Gray said that FAMU (2-6, 1-3) will continue to do its part to be a positive influence on young people and stands with its university and nearby community during this time.

“To know that a 15-year-old kid has been arrested and ultimately allegedly responsible for what happened is a tragedy in itself,” Gray said. “That 15-year-old kid probably needs to be on somebody's football team, basketball team or doing something constructive with his time.

“With our program, we definitely stand in arms with the Tallahassee community. Also, obviously, our university in terms of whatever it is that’s decided in terms of how we come together and collectively try to figure out a way to end the senseless violence that's been going on in and around not just Tallahassee but our country when it comes down to gun violence.”

Bethune-Cookman upset win

Bethune-Cookman had one of the more surprising victories in HBCU football during Week 8.

Coach Raymond Woodie’s team knocked off Jackson State 24-21 at home. Bethune-Cookman (5-3, 3-1) had dropped the last five matchups to the Tigers, dating back to Sept. 1, 2019.

Wildcats quarterback Tyler Jefferson threw the go-ahead 19-yard touchdown pass to Rickie Shaw with 36 seconds remaining. His offensive line held off the Jackson State (6-2, 3-2) four-man rush, giving him time to move out of the pocket to find Shaw on the right corner of the end zone on third-and-11.

Jackson State (6-2, 3-2) had a chance to tie the game, but Andrew Ivaniciuc missed a 49-yard field goal to end the game.

“I'm happy for the guys,” Woodie said. “We still have a lot to get better at as far as offense, defense and special teams. But obviously, you know, when you win, the guys start to believe. Especially when you’re trying to build a program and get them over the hump. Winning is always good.”

Bethune-Cookman’s top defender was graduate student linebacker Stephen Sparrow, who had 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Jackson State’s ground game was limited to only 33 yards on 36 attempts. This included 60 yards lost.

After handing Jackson State a second league loss, Bethune-Cookman is tied for first place in the SWAC East alongside Alabama A&M.