Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Alabama A&M notebook


Huntsville Times

A&M's Harris, Moland, Mattix honored

Alabama A&M's coaching staff selected receiver Thomas Harris, inside linebacker Avery Moland and kicker Grant Mattix as players of the week for their work in Saturday's 45-14 win over Mississippi Valley State.

Harris was named offensive player of the week after catching four passes for a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown. A 6-foot, 171-pound sophomore, Harris had a huge second half with three catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. He had a 63-yard catch late in the third quarter to help set up Ulysses Banks' 15-yard touchdown run and hauled in a 50-yard touchdown pass from Kelcy Luke on the fourth play of the fourth quarter.

Moland was named defensive player of the week after coming away with a game-high 10 tackles, including six solo stops. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and recovered a fumble.

Mattix, a freshman walk-on from Lee High School, handled the kickoff duties and did a great job in helping the Bulldogs contain Clarence Cotton, one of the more dangerous returners in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Cotton returned three kickoffs for 11 yards.

Richardson swipes one: Jimmy Richardson, a senior inside linebacker, had his first career interception in Saturday night's 45-14 win over Mississippi Valley State.

With the game tied 0-0 early in the second quarter and A&M's offense struggling, Richardson picked off a Semaj Williams pass to help set up the Bulldogs' first touchdown. Six plays later, Kelcy Luke fought tight end Charles Moody with a 7-yard strike.

"I read screen and when I came up to get the running back, they overthrew him and the ball fell in my arms," said Richardson, who was also credited with four tackles.

Richardson, who lost his starting job to Mississippi State transfer Carlton Rice, has been bothered by some of the things that have appeared in The Times. "I'm trying to outplay Rice," he said. "Every week, he makes a play, I've got to make a play. That's why we're so good on defense."

Jones defends decision: Luke was pulled with about nine minutes left in the season opener against Tennessee State. He played long after A&M's last two games were decided, but Jones defended his decision to keep him in the game against Mississippi Valley State even with a 38-14 lead with more than 13 minutes remaining.

"I didn't feel the game was secure," Jones said. "I didn't want to give them any life and I didn't feel like we had played well enough. I told Kelcy to put the team on his shoulders and carry us and that's what he did."

Luke was 16-of-29 for 276 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He did most of his damage in the second half when he completed 8-of-11 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

MVSU coach Willie Totten said he had no problems with Luke in the game.

"Coach (Jones) has to do what he has to do," Totten said. "He's got to get his guys ready to play."

- Reggie Benson

No comments: