WEEK 5 STATS: 9 total tackles (4 solo), 1.0 sack, INT, QBH, 2 PBU
Jerome continued his impactful play during Saint Francis’ stifling defensive effort against Division II Malone. Playing in front of his home crowd for the first time this season, Jerome logged a team-high nine tackles to lead a defense that limited its opponent to an average gain of 3.0 yards per play. Four of the stops he made while defending the run limited to ball carrier to two yards or fewer. The senior safety wreaked havoc when dropping back in pass defense as well, making an interception and record-ing two pass break-ups. Jerome's diving pick, which came of Malone’s first possession of the fourth quarter, gave SFU the ball at the Malone 28 and the Red Flash went on to extend their lead to 38-10 with a touchdown four plays later. The decorated 5-foot-11 defensive back was a force rushing the passer at times, too. Jerome forced an incompletion with a quarterback hurry late in the first quarter before derailing a second-quarter drive by making a solo sack. Jerome’s 16 interceptions are the most amongst active Division I FCS career leaders.