HERITAGE BOWL

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 27, 1997 12 AM PT

* Site: Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

* Bowl records: This is the fourth Heritage Bowl for Southern, which defeated South Carolina State after the 1993 season, Florida A&M; in 1995 and lost to Howard last year. South Carolina State defeated Grambling in the Heritage after the 1994 season.

* How they got there: The Southern Jaguars were champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The South Carolina State Bulldogs were in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference that sent two teams to the Division I-AA playoffs.

* The game: Both teams like to play the same way--concentrating on a strong running game and an attacking defense. “This is going to be an exciting football game,” South Carolina State Coach Willie Jeffries said. Jeffries has had more than his share of excitement this season. His Bulldogs won five games by a touchdown or less, three of those in the waning seconds and another in overtime. The Bulldog offense is built around Reggie Curry, Dennis Walker and Johnny Loper. Curry passed for 1,123 yards and 12 touchdowns. Walker rushed for 831 yards and six scores and Loper had 25 catches for 367 yards and four touchdowns. “This year they’ve diversified a little,” Southern Coach Pete Richardson said of the Bulldogs. “They throw a little more. It’s going to be a challenge for us.” Southern’s ground-oriented attack is geared to the running of Steve Wofford, the SWAC offensive player of the year. He rushed for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns. Marcus Jacoby passed for 1,425 yards and 14 touchdowns.

SOUTHERN (10-1)

Mississippi Valley State: W 51-30

Northwestern State: W 27-9

Arkansas Pine Bluff: W 36-33 OT

Prairie View: 63-7

Alabama State: W 27-16

at Jackson State: W 28-8

Alcorn State: W 25-16

Nicholls State: W 21-14

at Florida A&M;: L 33-3

at Texas Southern: W 27-18

at Grambling: W 30-7