MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State will host reigning 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Champions Alcorn State to open the home portion of the schedule and to open SWAC play.
Like the Hornets, the Braves are entering the game off an opening week defeat as they lost at nationally-ranked Georgia Tech. Alcorn State does have the preseason offensive player of the year, John Gibbs, back to lead their powerful offense. All Gibbs did last season was rush for over 1,000 yards and pass for almost 2,500 yards in picking up the Co-Offensive Player of the Year award.
"I see a good football team and they're not the defending SWAC Champs for nothing," Head Coach Brian Jenkins said. "Jay (Hopson) has done a good job and we're facing a team that is very tough, a team that wants to come in and win just like we want to win. We have to make sure we are on our "A" game and make sure we have focus and complete detail in our style of play."
"I think Gibbs is a phenomenal player he is the best player in the league. When you watch film he does some phenomenal things with the ball. I think he is a good leader off the field. With the little bit of time I got to spend with him at the conference meeting and just talking to him, he presents himself as a true gentleman and whenever you have a young man that does that and brings notoriety to your program in a good way you have to give him respect where respect is due."
The Hornets had a lot of positives to take away from their game against Tennessee State. The defense held the high-powered TSU offense to only 330 yards and held TSU to 14 points on four fourth-quarter turnovers that happened on the ASU side of the field.
After blocking eight kicks last season, ASU started the 2015 season off the right way as Roderick Henderson broke through the Tigers offensive line to block a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. It just happened to be the fourth blocked kick of his career.
Kourtney Berry and Daerius Washington showed why they were the top two leading tacklers on the team last season as both finished with game-high 13 tackles. 11 of Washington's tackles were solo, which made both his solo total and total tackles career-highs.
Offensively the Hornets struggled at time, but still managed over 300 yards of offense, primarily off the arm of Daniel Duhart who threw for 225 yards while completing 20 of his 25 attempts before an early fourth-quarter injury kept him out of the rest of the game.
When speaking of the positives that he took away from the game Jenkins said "that we are going to play football. We are not going to be a push over or lay down. We are going to play to win. I was excited to see our players respond and it didn't matter what atmosphere we were in we came to play football. It's exciting for any coach to see his players fight and play the way we did."
"We played team ball. We made some mistakes offensively and the defense picked right up. We made some mistakes defensively and the offense picked up. Special teams stepped in and did some good things and to see a complete effort from your team you can walk away as a coach feeling good about that."
The game will be carried on the ASU Hornets Sports Network with Duane Lewis bringing you the play-by-play action and former All-SWAC performer Chris Terry providing the color analyst commentary.
For those who want to arrive at the game early and for all the tailgaters, there will be a Hornets Legends Walk beginning at 4 p.m. It will begin on Harris Drive and come all the way to the entrance to ASU stadium.
COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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