Challenge awaits SU's defense

By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter

Alabama A&M’s offense against Southern’s defense looms as an exciting matchup Saturday.

A&M averages 443.6 yards and 37.8 points per game — both marks ranking 12th nationally — while Southern is fifth in pass efficiency defense (87.17), ninth in scoring defense (14.2 ppg) and 17th in total defense (301.0 ypg).

A&M (4-1, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) visits SU (5-0, 3-0) for homecoming at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.

The normally conservative, defense-oriented Bulldogs have raised eyebrows for their explosive scoring — even as they had to replace a host of running backs and wide receivers.

A&M blew out Texas Southern 48-24 in the Bulldogs’ homecoming Saturday in Normal, Ala. Ulysses Banks ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, with senior quarterback Kelcy Luke throwing for 206 yards and four touchdowns.

Meanwhile, SU held Alabama State junior running back Jay Peck to 35 yards on 16 carries — his lowest total since the 2006 season opener, before he broke out and became an All-SWAC first-teamer — in a 21-12 win Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

“We saw some things on film,” Southern defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “Our thing was, we had to stone the run. We brought guys off the edge, because they were trying to outflank us. So we just brought the pressure to the side where they were trying to outflank us and it worked out for us.”

Two Alabama State quarterbacks combined to go 8-for-33 for 84 yards and two interceptions.

Southern made a fourth-down stand to win last season’s Bayou Classic, and the Jaguars have made several fourth-down stops deep in their territory this season.

Saturday, SU held on a fourth-and-goal at the 2 midway through the third quarter, preserving a 12-point lead.

“If it comes down to it, we’re going to step up,” SU linebacker Gary Chapman said.


By George
Southern senior free safety Jarmaul George, the SWAC’s preseason defensive player of the year, made his fourth interception this season Saturday. He has had one in each of the last three games.

George is tied with five other players, behind the five interceptions for Chris Wynn of Penn, for second in the Football Championship Subdivision.


He has 12 in his career at Southern.

Go for it
Alabama State made quarterback Alex Engram its punter the week before playing Southern and the move immediately paid off, with Engram named one of the SWAC’s co-special teams players of the week. What helped Saturday was Engram used his option to scamper twice in the second half to run for first downs.

First, he converted a fourth-and-4 with a 5-yard dash to the Southern 35 with 6:14 left in the third quarter. That drive ended on downs at the SU 16 with 4:22 to go.

Second, he converted a fourth-and-4 with a 16-yard run to the SU 35 with 14:49 left in the game. That drive ended on downs at the SU 13.

“We were going to try to fake them last week but the time didn’t present itself,” Engram said. “The first one, I watched Southern’s guy. He didn’t come. He kind of stayed flat-footed and back. I said, ‘OK.’ (Special teams coordinator Brian) Williams told me he trusts my judgment. The second one, we don’t run it to the left. When the guy crashed, he was out of control, to me, so I felt if I just faked, it would be alright.”

Duran Duran
SU punter Josh Duran was erroneously charged with a minus-2 yard punt in the first quarter. He fumbled the ball before he could kick it, with SU’s Antuanya Antoine recovering, but the Jaguars, of course, turning the ball over on downs at their own 40-yard line.

Duran actually had five punts for 227 yards — averaging 45.4 yards per punt (not 37.5). He also was 3-for-3 on PATs.

Quick hits
SU backup RB Kendrick Smith (24 carries, 135 yards; six catches, 48 yards, two touchdowns) missed Saturday’s game because of a strained Achilles’ tendon. He did not dress and wore a walking boot. There was no timetable for Smith’s return. Alabama State was held to its fewest points since losing 38-0 at Troy, a Football Bowl Subdivision member, to start the 2006 season. Alabama State true freshman K Jeremy Fetterhoff missed a 22-yard field-goal try in the second quarter, making him 0-for-3 this season. Saturday’s game was tape-delayed that evening on ESPNU. Alabama State spokesperson Kelvin Datcher said he was not informed until late Thursday night that the game would not be televised live.

Notes
SU had 10 quarterback hurries, five by Chapman (who also had a sack), and six pass breakups Saturday. The Jaguars have totaled nine interceptions and 24 breakups this season. Last season, SU had 14 interceptions and 30 breakups. In three of SU’s games this season, the Jaguars have shut out an opponent for a full half (Mississippi Valley State in the second half and Prairie View and Alabama State in the first half, with both of those teams getting their only points on a safety). SU has won six straight games, dating to last season. Sophomore QB Bryant Lee is 6-1 as a starter.