ESPN Oct 29, 2023, 12:08 a.m. ET3 Minutes display
Jackson State’s Leilani Armenta becomes the first woman to score in an HBCU game
Jackson State kicker Leilani Armenta becomes the first woman to score in an FCS HBCU game with an extra point in the second quarter against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Jackson State kicker Leilani Armenta became the first woman to score in an FCS HBCU game on Saturday, hitting three extra points in the Tigers’ 40-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Armenta — a 5-foot-10 man from Ventura, Calif., who is also a football player at Jackson State — made history in the second quarter by capping a touchdown drive that included a 25-yard pass from Jacobian Morgan to DJ Stevens 5:35 minutes before half time.
She added two more extra points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers improved to 6-3.
“We didn’t know it was going to happen and we’re super excited. We all started screaming because we had no idea,” Brandy Armenta, Leilani’s mother, told The Clarion-Ledger. “My daughter had no idea she would be taking part today. We are more than thrilled.”
Jackson State kicker Dylan Wasson also scored a goal in the game. He finished the game with two field goals and an extra point as the Tigers held the 1-7 Golden Lions winless in the SWAC to 0-5.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for all season, a complete game from all three phases of our football team,” Jackson State coach TC Taylor said. “Special teams were completely out of action today. The defense was completely out of action; they did what they do every week: get turnovers, get to the quarterback and drive the opposing offense off the field.”
“Finally the offensive came. You did a great job. I think the problem with the offense is just turnovers, and they eliminated that today.”
Jackson State improved to 4-2 in the league.