Around the SWAC

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Grambling

In normal seasons, Grambling coach Rod Broadway would rather an off week later in the schedule. But given that this is his first year and his team is coming off a 34-10 loss at Pittsburgh, three weeks in is fine.

Broadway had previously lamented he didn’t know his team well enough after 15 days of spring practice and then preseason camp.

“We’ve learned a little bit,” Broadway said. “We have a base to build on now. This is definitely a good time to have it. We have to get better.”

Broadway said former starting QB Larry Kerlegan, who has yet to play this season, will play against defending SWAC champ Alabama A&M, on Sept. 22. Kerlegan could be at QB, WR or RB. Grambling held Pitt to 119 rushing yards on 35 carries.

Alabama A&M

A&M, which averaged 23.8 ppg last season and has been known for its defense, is averaging 45.0 ppg — seventh best nationally — despite replacing three offensive linemen, two tailbacks, two fullbacks and three of four receivers.

Senior QB Kelcy Luke, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, threw for a career bests of 301 yards and four TDs in a 41-10 rout of Division II Clark Atlanta on Saturday. Plus, sophomore Ulysses Banks, the nation’s top kickoff returner last year, ran for a school-best 211 yards and two TDs.

“Kelcy is the anchor,” A&M coach Anthony Jones said. “We have some speed and we have some big-play capability.”

A&M wide receivers coach Roger Totten spent the last four seasons as an assistant with his brother Willie, the head coach at Mississippi Valley State. Willie Totten said, “I blame a lot of people for that,” but would not go further.

“To lose him was very, very crucial for us,” Willie Totten said. “But we have to move on.”

Willie Totten said he hasn’t spoken to his brother since Roger’s departure in June, but the silence wasn’t unusual. The two were competitors with Roger Totten at UAPB and Alcorn State.

“That’s normally how we operate. We never talk during football season,” Willie Totten said.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Senior quarterback Chris Wallace, last season’s SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, got pulled in the third quarter of a 21-3 win Thursday at Alcorn State.

Junior Johnathan Moore, who was 5-for-10 for 64 yards and a touchdown, relieved Wallace and went 8-for-18 for 67 yards and a TD.

UAPB coach Mo Forte said Monday he’d use practice to determine this week’s starter.

The offensive line, with three to four new starters, remains a concern. The unit gave up 10 sacks (six on Moore, four on Wallace) Thursday after allowing four the week before.

“Any time your offensive line is struggling, your entire offense is struggling, and certainly our quarterback was struggling,” Forte said. “We’re not able to establish our running game like we have in the past.”

So far, Martell Mallett has 93 yards and one TD on 25 carries and Mickey Dean 39 yards on 17 carries.

Alcorn State

Alcorn (0-2) has just 13 points so far. Last season, the Braves had 20 points in an 0-2 start but finished 6-5. Tony Hobson, the planned starter, didn’t play against UAPB after injuring two fingers in practice Tuesday. Sophomore Tim Buckley (2-for-2, 18 yards) started, but was pulled for veteran Chris Walker (12-for-24, 164 yards and two INTs), who had a thigh bruise.

Jackson State

Sophomore Eric Perri, whose overtime kick beat Southern last season, made a school-record 50-yard field goal (after hitting a 44-yarder earlier) in a 16-13 loss to Tennessee State.

SWAC officials

Harold Mitchell Sr. has been named the interim coordinator of football officials. Mitchell replaces Gil Marchman. Mitchell will coordinate the scheduling, training and supervision of all the conference’s football officials.

THE RATING GAME

1. Alabama A&M

Defending champ continues to impress with big-play offense

2. Southern

Surprising running game has grounded SU’s early success

3. Grambling

Tigers put in solid effort at Pittsburgh, now get week off

4. Alabama State

Two straight long trips: at TSU on Saturday, now at UAPB Thursday

5. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Ugly win at Alcorn; offensive line has to get better quickly

6. Prairie View

Making it happen in all phases: offense, defense, special teams

7. Jackson State

Comegy feels good entering SWAC play, but JSU 1-6 in last 7

8. Miss. Valley State

Defense may be good; but offense will hold back Valley

9. Texas Southern

Tigers have been in games, but still looking for first win

10. Alcorn State

Went 6-3 after 0-2 start last season, but injuries troubling

THE BIG GAME

Prairie View at Southern

6 p.m. Saturday at A.W. Mumford Stadium

Prairie View, which has been resuscitating its program, could make a statement with back-to-back wins over Southern for first time since three in a row from 1962-64. SU, which blew a two-TD, fourth-quarter lead in losing to PV for the first time since 1971, can’t afford to let the Panthers steal early-season momentum for the second straight season. Home opener for SU should be big draw after impressive 2-0 start.