By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Southern University sophomore Bryant Lee, entering his first season as a starter, said he might need that first hit to get him going, to knock out the butterflies.
Lee knew what he was talking about.
Lee and the Southern offense found their stride after halftime as the Jaguars overcame an eight-point deficit with a 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Saturday in Legion Field.
Lee, Southern’s MVP in the game, was a respectable 13-for-19 for 132 yards and one TD in the first half — even after going 3-for-5 for minus-5 yards in the first quarter.
However, Lee and the offense were even better in the second half. Lee was 9-for-10 for 83 yards. He also ran for 28 yards and a touchdown as the offense rang up 21 unanswered points.
“I thought we had to do something to get the confidence built up,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We did a lot of possession-type passes.”
Though Southern broke two big plays for touchdowns in the first half — Darren Coates’ 90-yard run on the first offensive play and Gerard Landry’s 46-yard touchdown in which he blasted through two defenders — the Jaguars didn’t sustain drives. Contributing to the first-game struggles, Southern had bad field position much of the first half.
SU started at its own 10-yard line (Coates’ TD), its 20 (losing 13 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 (losing 5 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 again (driving to the FAMU 29 before fumbling), its 37 (Landry’s TD) and its 23 (getting to the FAMU 38 before the first half ended).
In the third quarter, SU started at its 32 (going 68 yards in five plays for a TD), its 23 (three-and-out), the FAMU 24 (getting a TD three plays later) and its 26 (going 14 plays and 74 yards for a TD and a 33-20 lead).
“Coming out after halftime, getting that drive going and scoring, that built the confidence,” Richardson said.
There were no passes on the drive that got the Jaguars back in the game, taking over at their 32 to start the second half.
Lee and Coates broke for 22-yard carries on consecutive plays, then Lee ran for 4 yards and 6 yards to set up a first down at the FAMU 14, with Threat bursting through for a touchdown on the next play to get the Jaguars within 20-19 with 12:46 remaining in the quarter.
“We knew we could run the football coming out in the second half,” Richardson said. “Once we did that, it changed the complexion of the game.”
Work day
SU, normally off Monday because so many players have class conflicts with practice, worked Monday, with school off for Labor Day. That helps, because the Jaguars won’t practice Thursday. Instead, they’ll fly to Chicago that night.
Southern went a short seven periods with the 12-minute run Sunday before going 13 Monday capped by a 12-minute conditioning run.
“Just to loosen up and try to work some of the soreness out for some of the guys who played, basically,” Richardson said.
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Saturday’s attendance of 30,106 was the best in the event’s three-year history. South Carolina State and Alabama State drew 18,452 in ’05, and Hampton and Grambling attracted 19,175 last season. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team has scored 27 points in all three events, with Hampton edging Grambling 27-26 in overtime in ’06 and S.C. State blasting Alabama State 27-14 in ’05.
Notes
Junior QB C.J. Byrd, out all preseason camp after a car accident late last month, is back at practice in full gear. Richardson has said Byrd likely won’t play this season. True freshman K Josh Duran suffered from cramps late in the game Saturday, allowing sophomore Willie Joseph to kick off for the first time. Three true freshmen DEs — Dexter James, Ted Jones (two tackles) and Steven Williams — played Saturday. Richardson said SU suffered no major injuries Saturday. Valley coach Willie Totten said the Delta Devils had no major injuries from Saturday as well.
Southern University sophomore Bryant Lee, entering his first season as a starter, said he might need that first hit to get him going, to knock out the butterflies.
Lee knew what he was talking about.
Lee and the Southern offense found their stride after halftime as the Jaguars overcame an eight-point deficit with a 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Saturday in Legion Field.
Lee, Southern’s MVP in the game, was a respectable 13-for-19 for 132 yards and one TD in the first half — even after going 3-for-5 for minus-5 yards in the first quarter.
However, Lee and the offense were even better in the second half. Lee was 9-for-10 for 83 yards. He also ran for 28 yards and a touchdown as the offense rang up 21 unanswered points.
“I thought we had to do something to get the confidence built up,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We did a lot of possession-type passes.”
Though Southern broke two big plays for touchdowns in the first half — Darren Coates’ 90-yard run on the first offensive play and Gerard Landry’s 46-yard touchdown in which he blasted through two defenders — the Jaguars didn’t sustain drives. Contributing to the first-game struggles, Southern had bad field position much of the first half.
SU started at its own 10-yard line (Coates’ TD), its 20 (losing 13 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 (losing 5 yards on a three-and-out), its 11 again (driving to the FAMU 29 before fumbling), its 37 (Landry’s TD) and its 23 (getting to the FAMU 38 before the first half ended).
In the third quarter, SU started at its 32 (going 68 yards in five plays for a TD), its 23 (three-and-out), the FAMU 24 (getting a TD three plays later) and its 26 (going 14 plays and 74 yards for a TD and a 33-20 lead).
“Coming out after halftime, getting that drive going and scoring, that built the confidence,” Richardson said.
There were no passes on the drive that got the Jaguars back in the game, taking over at their 32 to start the second half.
Lee and Coates broke for 22-yard carries on consecutive plays, then Lee ran for 4 yards and 6 yards to set up a first down at the FAMU 14, with Threat bursting through for a touchdown on the next play to get the Jaguars within 20-19 with 12:46 remaining in the quarter.
“We knew we could run the football coming out in the second half,” Richardson said. “Once we did that, it changed the complexion of the game.”
Work day
SU, normally off Monday because so many players have class conflicts with practice, worked Monday, with school off for Labor Day. That helps, because the Jaguars won’t practice Thursday. Instead, they’ll fly to Chicago that night.
Southern went a short seven periods with the 12-minute run Sunday before going 13 Monday capped by a 12-minute conditioning run.
“Just to loosen up and try to work some of the soreness out for some of the guys who played, basically,” Richardson said.
MEAC/SWAC Challenge
Saturday’s attendance of 30,106 was the best in the event’s three-year history. South Carolina State and Alabama State drew 18,452 in ’05, and Hampton and Grambling attracted 19,175 last season. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team has scored 27 points in all three events, with Hampton edging Grambling 27-26 in overtime in ’06 and S.C. State blasting Alabama State 27-14 in ’05.
Notes
Junior QB C.J. Byrd, out all preseason camp after a car accident late last month, is back at practice in full gear. Richardson has said Byrd likely won’t play this season. True freshman K Josh Duran suffered from cramps late in the game Saturday, allowing sophomore Willie Joseph to kick off for the first time. Three true freshmen DEs — Dexter James, Ted Jones (two tackles) and Steven Williams — played Saturday. Richardson said SU suffered no major injuries Saturday. Valley coach Willie Totten said the Delta Devils had no major injuries from Saturday as well.
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