Week 3 of HBCU football: Southern’s Willie Quinn is the Jaguars’ all-purpose star

Whenever Willie Quinn gets his hands on the football, he’s capable of making a big play. Actually, Quinn — Southern University’s wide receiver and return specialist — made several big plays to help the Jaguars come away with a big 64-6 victory over Alabama State University.

The 5-foot-5, 150-pound senior had a sensational game, compiling 320 all-purpose yards. He had four receptions for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including a 78-yard score.

Quinn was not only a threat as a receiver, but also as a punt and kickoff return specialist. He picked up 72 yards on two punt returns. He gave the Jaguars good field position with a 22-yard kickoff return. Quinn didn’t stop there. In his only carry against Alabama State, he rushed for 18 yards. He also threw a 30-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Randall Menard.

In the battle of the HUs, Hampton prevailed on the field

Southern is one of the most explosive offensive teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), with 1-0 SWAC, 1-2 overall. Jaguars quarterback Austin Howard can really throw the football. He completed 14-of-27 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns against the Hornets. Southern’s Lenard Tillery, a great runner between the tackles, had 22 carries for 124 yards in the win over Alabama State (0-2 SWAC, 0-3 overall).

Quinn gives the Jaguars that extra dimension on the outside. With all the things he can do on the field, Quinn could be a handful for every team in the SWAC.

TOP PERFORMANCES

• University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff redshirt sophomore quarterback Brandon Duncan connected on 29 of 52 passes for 505 yards and four touchdown passes to give the Golden Lions a 45-43 triple overtime victory over Alcorn State University.

• Alcorn State quarterback Noah Johnson had a spectacular performance in that losing effort against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Johnson threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns while completing 30 of 41 passes.

• Prairie View A&M University running back Sta’fon McCray put on a show, amassing 192 yards on 17 carries in a 41-20 win over Alabama A&M. McCray scored two touchdowns, one of which for 61 yards. He averaged 11.3 yards a carry in that contest.

• Howard University linebacker David Lee had nine total and seven solo tackles in the Bison’s 34-7 loss to Hampton University. Lee had 2.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.

• North Carolina Central University senior quarterback Malcolm Bell was 19 of 24 for 270 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ 65-7 victory over St. Augustine’s University.

• Bowie State University senior wide receiver Nyme Manns had 12 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown as the Bulldogs lost a tough 44-35 contest to Central Connecticut State University.

• South Carolina State University redshirt junior linebacker Darius Leonard had 19 total and eight solo tackles in the Bulldogs’ 59-0 loss to Clemson University.

Tuskegee ranked 13th in D-II poll

Southern running back Lenard Tillery has rushed for 3,264 yards in his career so far. Tillery is 787 yards away from becoming the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher. Former Jackson State University star Destry Wright is the record-holder with 4,050 career yards.

Tuskegee University, which is 3-0 this season and ranked No. 13 in Division II, could do something special this season. The Golden Tigers edged Florida A&M University, 20-17, in the 5th Quarter Classic in Mobile, Alabama.

After playing three consecutive FBS opponents, South Carolina State University will play its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game of the season against Florida A&M on the road Saturday in Tallahassee, Florida.