It is as routine and predictable as a punt on fourth-and-long: Coaches, whenever they face an underdog in a rivalry game, tend to heap truckloads of praise on the other team, hoping to keep their own players focused.
That, indeed, was the routine Monday for Grambling fourth-year coach Rod Broadway, who said Southern’s 2-8 record is deceiving. “I’m telling you: When you look at Southern on tape, they’re a better football team than what their record indicates. They really are, and I’m not blowing...
Southern limits penalties
How did Southern coach Stump Mitchell measure his team’s progress after the Jaguars lost to Alabama State last weekend? Inch by microscopic inch, and flag by flag. Yet again, penalties were his topic du jour Monday. In a 21-19 loss at A.W. Mumford Stadium, Southern committed two crucial penalties in the final 16 seconds.
The first was a personal foul after the Jaguars scored their last touchdown, bringing them to within two points. Their two-point conversion attempt started at the 18-yard line, and SU failed to score.
READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.
Videographer: Realwidit5
Videographer: gridiron111
Grambling State Fight Song
Fight for dear ole Grambling
Fight, we're gonna win
Light The Torch of Victory
We will win this game, RAH RAH RAH
FIGHT for dear ole Grambling
Fight, we're gonna win
There's no doubt that we are
The Pride of the USA!!
Showing posts with label Bayou Classic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bayou Classic. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Bayou Classic: Grambling State 31, Southern 13
Coach Rod Broadway is 2-1 in Bayou Classic wins.Grambling grounds Southern
NEW ORLEANS — Grambling ran its way to a second Bayou Classic victory in as many years — and fifth since 2000. Frank Warren led all GSU rushers with 166 yards and two touchdowns in an eventual 31-13 win over Southern, its in-state Southwestern Athletic Conference rival. "That was the plan, to give it to Frank and (fellow junior running back) Cornelius (Walker), and let them take it over," said junior GSU quarterback Greg Dillon. Grambling's 53 rush attempts were most all year; its 308 yards were also a season high. Every GSU touchdown came on the ground. "Our offensive line really did an outstanding job," said Grambling coach Rod Broadway, now 2-1 against Southern. "Any time you rush for that many yards, you're doing something right." A game featuring teams tied at 18-18 all time in the Dome — and 4-4 in the 2000s — played as scripted, with Grambling and Southern trading pairs of touchdowns in the first half.
Grambling attack well-grounded
NEW ORLEANS — Grambling played a game of keep-away in its 31-13 victory against Southern in the Bayou Classic on Saturday afternoon in the Superdome. The Tigers ran for 308 yards and all four of their touchdowns as they exceeded even their league-leading rushing standards. Grambling, which came in averaging 178.4 rushing yards per game, had more running plays (58) than the Jaguars had total plays (56), enabling it to possess the ball for 37:01 while running 85 total plays. “We wanted to keep their offense on the sideline because they’re explosive and are capable of making big plays,” Grambling coach Rob Broadway said of Southern. “Any time you rush for 308 yards, your offensive line is doing a great job.” The offensive line sprung Frank Warren, the SWAC’s third-leading rusher, for 166 yards and touchdown runs of 13 and 1 yards on 24 carries. Cornelius Walker, the SWAC’s fifth-leading rusher, ran for 57 yards on 11 carries.
Photos: Grambling 31, Southern 13
Bayou domination
NEW ORLEANS — With 1:06 remaining in the biggest game of the season, just after the final timeout of the Bayou Classic, Grambling’s offense emerged from the west sideline of the Superdome, full of life and sure of its fate. A crowd of 53,618 fans had looked on as the Tigers spent much of their Saturday pounding Southern University at the line of scrimmage. They sensed victory. In a 31-13 win, all that remained was the final blow. Behind the west sideline, Grambling fans waved their arms in celebration, and the World Famed Band screamed right along. Offensive lineman Keir Boyd skipped and danced his way to the Jaguars’ 1-yard line, ready for more. A few feet behind the line of scrimmage, tailback Frank Warren prepared for his last handoff.
Attendance: 53,618@Louisiana Super Dome, New Orleans, LA
READ MORE, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
READ RELATED ARTICLES:
SU injuries, GSU defense slow Jaguars
GSU wins inside battle
How They Scored: Southern-Grambling
Jaguars squander shot at first win
SU women succumb to deeper Cal team
Wofford trips up Southern men
SU women lose guard Aerica Hicks
Reliant no longer option for SU-Texas Southern
Pride main thing on the line for Bayou Classic
Sunday, August 30, 2009
College Football Preview '09: Southern University Jaguars
SU Jaguars head coach Pete Richardson (16th year, 128-57)To listen to the media types covering Southern University's football team, the Jaguars sound ready for prime time. Optimism abounds in the Southern camp, with a lot of the key cogs among 17 returning starters that were a couple of close losses away from playing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference title game. Even venerable coach Pete Richardson, entering his 17th season with the Jaguars, broke out of his stoic façade to voice high hopes for his team.
"I'm excited to see what kind of team we can have," Richardson said. "We've got a lot of guys back who have been through some battles for us, and we're coming into the season pretty healthy. A lot of these guys worked hard, stayed here during the summer, and I think a lot of them have really matured in a year."
Still, all the talk of going from the "Bluff to Birmingham" for the SWAC Championship Game might be a little premature. After all, the Jags haven't claimed a SWAC title since 2003 and haven't even won their own division since 2004. Last season, SU had to win two of their last three - one in overtime -- just to finish with a winning 6-5 record in 2008, and the squad showed a disturbing knack for self-destructing at crucial times last year. Fourth-quarter losses to Florida A&M and Prairie View A&M punched a hole in what could have been a banner year.
Jaguar senior All-SWAC QB Bryant Lee #162009 JAGUAR SCHEDULE
Sept. 5 at UL Lafayette (6 p.m.)
Sept. 12 Central State (OH) (6 p.m.)
Sept. 19 Tennessee State (6 p.m.)
Sept. 26 *Alcorn State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 3 *at Jackson State (6 p.m.)
Oct. 17 Fort Valley State (5:30 p.m.)
Oct. 22 *Prairie View A&M (6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 31 *at Ark.-Pine Bluff (2:30 p.m.)
Nov. 14 *vs. Alabama State (2:30 p.m., Mobile, Ala.)
Nov. 28 *vs. Grambling (1 p.m., New Orleans)
Dec. 5 *at Texas Southern (1 p.m.)
Home games in bold. *denotes Southwestern Athletic Conference games
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
READ RELATED ARTICLES:
SU's division status at risk, official says
Jaguars have final scrimmage
Southern basketball schedule released
Trip to Ohio State highlights SU women's schedule
'Jena Six' defendant Mychal Bell attending Southern, hoping to ...
Jaguars have final scrimmage
Bustle expects Southern to bring crowd
Wilson stands out in scrimmage
Nicholls soccer blanks SU
Lee gives Southern a chance to challenge in SWAC
Itching for a championship
Southern soccer to host NW State today
Still sidelined
Southern set to open new locker room facility
Southern's Chatman takes to safety like a natural
Keys: Run game just keeps on giving
Southern fine-tunes coverages
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thousands pour into New Orleans for Bayou Classic
Tens of thousands of people are pouring into New Orleans, and by the end of the weekend, they will have pumped millions of dollars into the New Orleans economy. The Bayou Classic is no ordinary game, and no ordinary event for New Orleans. A classic football rivalry between Grambling State and Southern University means one massive party in the city."GSU will win tomorrow. What's the score? It will be 30-12. Grambling State University, of course," said Rickey Burton. He and his wife Phyllis have been attending the rivalry game every year since he graduated from college in 1974. The festivities center around events at the Superdome. Friday night, the annual Battle of the Bands and Greek step show was the big draw, and adding a hint of New Orleans flavor was the Mardi Gras Indians as the event opener. The events draw thousands of fans.
VIEW VIDEO, CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Plenty at stake in SWAC during Bayou Classic
Southern-Grambling Matchups
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Bayou Classic, always important, has rarely meant more to Grambling
GRAMBLING, LA —- For all the talk this year about tiebreakers and coin flips, Grambling’s goals are actually quite simple: Win and you’re in. A victory in the Bayou Classic ensures GSU’s berth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship Game for the sixth time in 10 editions. If only it were that simple.“People around here,” second-year coach Rod Broadway was saying this week, “live and die with this game.” On two memorable occasions since the establishment of the SWAC title match, it was the latter. Grambling entered this emotional season-ending rivalry game against Southern in 1999 and again in 2003 needing a win to advance to Birmingham. Both times, GSU lost.
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
READ RELATED ARTICLES:
Photo Galleries : Grambling preps for 2008 Classic
A wiser Broadway preps for second trip to New Orleans
BAYOU CLASSIC: Prairie View loss changed everything for Southern, SWAC
Grambling's defense once again the spark for SWAC title try
Which jersey will Southern turn to?
Without power rankings, SWAC settles for coins
Richardson hopes good luck continues
Cador says expect more early signees
Talladega's night -- first-year NAIA program beats SU
Baylor rolls past Southern, 85-43
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tough times sack Grambling band: School notified TSU weeks ago about no-show
Houston, TX - To all those disappointed college football fans who were expecting a battle of the bands at Thursday's game between Texas Southern University and Grambling State, Grambling sends its apology for being a no-show. Challenging financial times forced the Grambling Tiger Band to stay home, school officials said Friday. "We have to be fiscally responsible to make our dollars go as far as they can," said Grambling spokesman Byron McCauley. "It does not mean that we don't love Houston. I really want people to know that we're hopeful there will be more opportunities for the band to be in Houston to perform."Grambling has a big Thanksgiving weekend game, the Bayou Classic, in New Orleans on Nov. 29. It's the premiere game of black college football. TSU spokeswoman Eva Pickens said Grambling notified TSU several weeks in advance that its band would not attend the game. Mississippi Valley State University's band did not attend TSU's Nov. 8 homecoming game for the same reason, Pickens said. "We're thinking it's a sign of the times" Pickens said.
CONTINUE READING, CLICK BLOG TITLE.
READ RELATED ARTICLES:
College Basketball Roundup: Tech beats Grambling in OT
Grambling's final 2 games could trigger West coin flip
Lamar Women Win Season Opener 58-49 Over Grambling State
Men's basketball: Lobos rout Grambling for 600th win
Grambling tops Texas Southern
Monday, October 1, 2007
Bayou Classic
Photo: Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and Dancing Dolls are major attractions for most SU fans. The Bayou Classic had a $175-million economic impact on the New Orleans economy in 2004, ranking it third in the top 10. And yet it remains an event somewhat under the radar of locals because it falls at the end of November close to Thanksgiving, said Janet Speyrer, associate dean for research in the University of New Orleans College of Business Administration.
“People tend not to think of it quite as much because they’re at family gatherings and aren’t downtown to see the impact it has,” Speyrer said. “A lot of people are at home with the family or going somewhere, so they tend to underestimate how important it is to the local economy. People don’t think of that being such a big event.”
But the Bayou Classic, which pits Grambling State University against Southern University, typically draws close to 70,000 people to the game. Up to 200,000 more come to take part in additional activities, said Cydni Bickerstaff, CEO of Bickerstaff Sports and Entertainment, which manages the event.
“A lot of people may not be able to go to the game, but they go to the Battle of the Bands or one of the other ancillary events that take place that weekend,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s like a big reunion. People come back and see people they haven’t seen in a while and reconnect.”
Photo: Members of GSU Marching Tiger Band performs for crowd at University of Pittsburgh game.After playing in Houston in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, the Bayou Classic returned in 2006 to significantly smaller crowds. Last year the game drew 47,136 compared with 68,911 in 2004, a 31 percent drop.
The dip in attendance would have resulted in a significant drop in the Classic’s top 10 ranking, but an economic impact study on the game has not been conducted in three years.
Based on 2004 figures the Sugar Bowl, with an economic impact of $250.5 million, would have ranked well ahead of the Bayou Classic at $175 million.
Ralph Slaughter, president of the Southern University System, said people’s fears of New Orleans stifled attendance in 2006.
“People were afraid to come,” Slaughter said. “They thought the air and water were bad. There were so many people who had it in their minds that New Orleans was underwater. People were encouraging us not to have the game, but I haven’t seen those kinds of e-mails this year.”
Bickerstaff said she hopes the people who attended the Bayou Classic last year and this year’s Essence Music Festival have spread the word New Orleans is safe and just as much fun as it was before the storm. She expects this year’s attendance to approach what it was before the hurricane.
“There was never a question of bringing the Bayou Classic back to New Orleans,” she said. “This is where the game belongs, where the history is. And as much as the schools contribute to the city of New Orleans, it’s only natural for them to come back and be able to help rebuild the city.”
Southern University Jaguars Human Jukebox Marching Band at Chicago Football Classic 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Jackson finally catching on at Grambling State
Photo: Reginald Jackson leads GSU with 20 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns.
By Nick Deriso, The News Star
GRAMBLING — Senior Grambling receiver Clyde Edwards, as his coaches like to say, is a marked man. That's meant an already-remarkable start for unheralded fellow senior Reginald Jackson.
Three games into this new season, Jackson is suddenly GSU's leading receiver for catches, total yards and yards per game.
"I'm finally getting a chance to showcase myself," Jackson said. "Clyde draws a whole lot of attention from defenses. The respect he gets, opens up things for me."
Always a standout in practice, Jackson has long labored in quiet obscurity behind record-smashing GSU products like Moses Harris and Henry Tolbert.
Jackson's career totals barely register: No catches as a freshman, seven as a sophomore (though three were for scores) and 12 as a junior. He'd caught just four touchdowns coming into 2007.
Even so, a new staff at GSU saw something in him that others perhaps hadn't.
"Reggie was good in the spring, he's been good since we've been here," said first-year coach Rod Broadway. "Everybody knows about Clyde; he's a marked man. So we had to find a couple more guys to get involved. We've got to spread it around."
Through it all, Jackson somehow remained focused and ready.
"You've got to stay humble, but you stay hungry at the same time," he said. "Other players had their chances. You've got to keep continuing to tell yourself that your chance will also come. When it was my time, I told myself that I would make the best of it."
He has.
In fact, "he might be stealing the show," as Edwards conceded.
Jackson scored the first touchdown of the Broadway era in Week 1, dashing 44 yards against Alcorn. Jackson then capped a six-play third-quarter drive with a stunning 69-yard TD in a blow out victory.
He added five catches a week later, though Grambling fell at upper-division Pittsburgh.
Then Jackson sparked an emotional win in last Saturday's game against reigning league champ Alabama A&M with a trick-play touchdown from 26 yards out.
"Everyday in practice, I kept saying we are going to score on this," Jackson said. "I was thinking 'six' the whole time."
It was.
A&M, which came into the game averaging 45 points a game, never scored again on the way to a 25-point loss to Grambling.
Jackson's backbreaking touchdown had a lot to do with that.
"At that point, once the other team gets hit with a play like that, it takes the swagger and the fight out of them," said Jackson, who then finished the scoring with a seven-yard TD.
Teammates say it was only a matter of time before Jackson's star rose.
"Coming into this year, we had to find another receiver, somebody to compliment Clyde," said redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Landers. "He brings that deceptive speed — people underestimate that — and he catches the ball well. He's taking advantage of his final year to shine."
Edwards, meanwhile, sits on the cusp of besting career marks across the Grambling receiving record book. He also sees Jackson as the wingman who can help pilot him there.
"I'm happy for him," Edwards said. "He's always practiced well, but hasn't always gotten the opportunity to perform on Saturdays. This year, he's finally in a situation where he can make some plays."
The 5-9, 170-pound Jackson, whose nickname is "Dee," was a celebrated Birmingham, Ala., recruit after being named all-city as a junior and senior. He considered at least four SWAC schools along with Alabama-Birmingham before becoming a member of one of former coach Doug Williams' last signing classes at GSU.
That followed a final prep season where Jackson scored on five receptions, three punt returns and a kickoff, helping his team to a 10-2 record at Parker High — a legendary Grambling recruiting stronghold that has produced Tolbert, Robert Taylor, Junious "Buck" Buchanan and his former high school coach Andre Robinson, who now oversees linebackers at GSU.
Could Jackson add his name to that list of Grambling greats? He's making a case so far this season.
A career spent waiting on the sidelines has put that goal into tight focus.
"You want to play every game like it's your last," Jackson said. "Every snap, every play, every quarter, I want to take that opportunity," Jackson said. "I want to fulfill every one of those dreams."
GRAMBLING — Senior Grambling receiver Clyde Edwards, as his coaches like to say, is a marked man. That's meant an already-remarkable start for unheralded fellow senior Reginald Jackson.
Three games into this new season, Jackson is suddenly GSU's leading receiver for catches, total yards and yards per game.
"I'm finally getting a chance to showcase myself," Jackson said. "Clyde draws a whole lot of attention from defenses. The respect he gets, opens up things for me."
Always a standout in practice, Jackson has long labored in quiet obscurity behind record-smashing GSU products like Moses Harris and Henry Tolbert.
Jackson's career totals barely register: No catches as a freshman, seven as a sophomore (though three were for scores) and 12 as a junior. He'd caught just four touchdowns coming into 2007.
Even so, a new staff at GSU saw something in him that others perhaps hadn't.
"Reggie was good in the spring, he's been good since we've been here," said first-year coach Rod Broadway. "Everybody knows about Clyde; he's a marked man. So we had to find a couple more guys to get involved. We've got to spread it around."
Through it all, Jackson somehow remained focused and ready.
"You've got to stay humble, but you stay hungry at the same time," he said. "Other players had their chances. You've got to keep continuing to tell yourself that your chance will also come. When it was my time, I told myself that I would make the best of it."
He has.
In fact, "he might be stealing the show," as Edwards conceded.
Jackson scored the first touchdown of the Broadway era in Week 1, dashing 44 yards against Alcorn. Jackson then capped a six-play third-quarter drive with a stunning 69-yard TD in a blow out victory.
He added five catches a week later, though Grambling fell at upper-division Pittsburgh.
Then Jackson sparked an emotional win in last Saturday's game against reigning league champ Alabama A&M with a trick-play touchdown from 26 yards out.
"Everyday in practice, I kept saying we are going to score on this," Jackson said. "I was thinking 'six' the whole time."
It was.
A&M, which came into the game averaging 45 points a game, never scored again on the way to a 25-point loss to Grambling.
Jackson's backbreaking touchdown had a lot to do with that.
"At that point, once the other team gets hit with a play like that, it takes the swagger and the fight out of them," said Jackson, who then finished the scoring with a seven-yard TD.
Teammates say it was only a matter of time before Jackson's star rose.
"Coming into this year, we had to find another receiver, somebody to compliment Clyde," said redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Landers. "He brings that deceptive speed — people underestimate that — and he catches the ball well. He's taking advantage of his final year to shine."
Edwards, meanwhile, sits on the cusp of besting career marks across the Grambling receiving record book. He also sees Jackson as the wingman who can help pilot him there.
"I'm happy for him," Edwards said. "He's always practiced well, but hasn't always gotten the opportunity to perform on Saturdays. This year, he's finally in a situation where he can make some plays."
The 5-9, 170-pound Jackson, whose nickname is "Dee," was a celebrated Birmingham, Ala., recruit after being named all-city as a junior and senior. He considered at least four SWAC schools along with Alabama-Birmingham before becoming a member of one of former coach Doug Williams' last signing classes at GSU.
That followed a final prep season where Jackson scored on five receptions, three punt returns and a kickoff, helping his team to a 10-2 record at Parker High — a legendary Grambling recruiting stronghold that has produced Tolbert, Robert Taylor, Junious "Buck" Buchanan and his former high school coach Andre Robinson, who now oversees linebackers at GSU.
Could Jackson add his name to that list of Grambling greats? He's making a case so far this season.
A career spent waiting on the sidelines has put that goal into tight focus.
"You want to play every game like it's your last," Jackson said. "Every snap, every play, every quarter, I want to take that opportunity," Jackson said. "I want to fulfill every one of those dreams."
Coates leads rejuvenated Southern running game
Photo: Darren Coates, SU RBBy JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Headlining Southern University’s muscled-up running game has been senior Darren Coates.
Coates had his best game as a Jaguar in a 41-34 win over Tennessee State on Saturday, running for 115 yards and a career-high two touchdowns and making three catches for 45 yards and his first career receiving score.
Coates, a two-way star at West Feliciana High School, was a nonqualifier as a freshman at SU and was academically ineligible another season. He ran for 119 yards and one touchdown and had seven catches for 56 yards last season.
“Of anybody who is playing well and is consistent for us this year, it’s him,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “He’s finally weathered (the eligibility issues) and developed into quite a fine football player.”
So far this season, he has 48 carries for 341 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and four touchdowns on the ground and seven catches for 62 yards and the TD through the air.
“Catching and running the ball, he did a great job,” SU offensive coordinator Mark Orlando said. “I’m really excited.
“He’s a kid who has been in the program and to come to his last year and be productive like he is. And he’s a great kid, just works hard. For him to have the success he’s had early is a big plus. He’s really helping us.”
Factor in that Coates’ production comes as SU has balanced the running game with sophomore Brian Threat (22 carries for 110 yards — 5.0 yards per carry) and junior Kendrick Smith (135 yards on 24 carries — 5.6 per rush — and six catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns).
SU averages a SWAC-best 184.0 rushing yards per game.
“You’ve got three guys there who can tote that mail and make things happen,” Orlando said. “And the O-line is doing a good job up front of creating some running lanes for those guys, and they’re hitting them.”
Landry hurting
Southern senior wide receiver Gerard Landry had his left arm in a sling and got rehab for a shoulder injury Tuesday.
“I think he’s going to be all right,” Richardson said.
Landry, a second-team All-SWAC selection last season, has 14 catches for 199 yards and a team-high four touchdowns this season.
He has scored in all four games this season and six of SU’s last season. He also has a catch in 29 consecutive games.
He served a suspension in the first half of the Tennessee State game, with RaShon Jacobs starting in his place. Jacobs scored in the first quarter, and Landry caught a TD in the third quarter.
Passer to punter
What to do with a former starting quarterback? Alabama State’s Alex Engram, the team’s top quarterback last season and the starter of the season opener, is the punter. Pretty good move. Engram was named the SWAC co-specialist of the week after averaging 42.2 yards on six punts, with a long of 54 and two inside the 20-yard line, Saturday in a 28-25 win over Alcorn State.
“I love him,” Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said. “This is a guy who had the starting quarterback job, instead of pouting he found a way to help us. He taught himself how to punt in one week. He not only did a good job, but he took a lot of pressure off Jeremy (Fetterhoff) and you can see how it helped (Fetterhoff’s) kicking.”
Fetterhoff went 4-for-4 on PATs.
Making the move
Engram was 59-for-137 (43.1 percent) for 787 yards, seven interceptions and six touchdowns and ran 86 times for 399 yards and five TDs last season. He was 4-for-9 for 32 yards and two interceptions a year ago in a 38-20 loss to Southern.
In the season opener, Engram was 3-for-6 for 44 yards and an interception when he was pulled in favor of Chris Mitchell. Mitchell went 10-for-11 for 206 yards and two TDs in a come-from-behind 24-19 win over Jacksonville State.
“We went last year with Alex and were kind of inconsistent,” Barlow said. “I just felt like I didn’t want to start the season off with the same stuff we had been through last year. &hellip If you’re making mistakes and you’ve been in the program for a while, we might as well go with someone else who hasn’t been in the program. We just decided to go with Chris, and he’s been doing pretty well.”
Harry back to defense
SU junior Frank Harry moved back to defensive tackle in practice Sunday. Harry worked at that spot in the spring after transferring from South Florida and at the beginning of preseason camp before moving to guard on offense.
Richardson said Harry could go back to offense in an emergency but said “he’s too good of an athlete” to keep on the sideline. Outside of a few snaps on defense, Harry’s been used just on special teams in games.
Notes
Barlow is the older brother of former Southern basketball player Darrell Barlow, whose last year for the Jaguars was 1997-98. Of SU’s five wins last season, the Jaguars’ largest margin of victory came in the 38-20 win over Alabama State. SU remains the least-penalized team in the SWAC, with 20 penalties for 168 yards. SU sophomore CB/RS Ronald Wade will miss Saturday’s game as the third game in a three-game suspension for violating team rules.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
SU Jaguars rally, stay unbeaten
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
To put Southern’s 41-34 thriller of a comeback win over Tennessee State into perspective, look no further than the play that put Southern ahead for good.
Though wide receiver Del Roberts got pushed out of bounds by cornerback Ozzie Harrell along the right sideline, Roberts came back onto the field, hauled in a Bryant Lee pass and picked his way through the defense to complete a 48-yard touchdown.
“He pushed me out of bounds and I never gave up on the play. I kept going,” Roberts said. “That’s the way it works. &hellip I saw the ball the whole time and I had to find it, had to go get it.”
Roberts may just as well have been talking about his entire team.
Southern, showing relentlessness and resilience Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, overcame a 21-point deficit in the final 36 minutes to overcome Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State (2-2) and remain undefeated through four games this season.
“We have a lot of character on this team,” Southern wide receiver/holder Nick Benjamin said. “I feel like we’re building every week. We’re getting better every week, and we’re getting better as a whole, not individually.”
Photo: SU's Alvin Fosselman celebrates the Jaguars’ victory.
Lee, a sophomore, threw for career highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns, with Roberts adding a career-best 110 yards and his first receiving score this season. Senior running back Darren Coates ran for 115 yards and a career-high two TDs while also catching his first career touchdown, a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
The Jaguars played without playmaker Gerard Landry, who was suspended for the first half after being ejected in the fourth quarter of a 12-2 win over Prairie View the week before, but Landry scored on his second catch, a 6-yarder in the third quarter. RaShon Jacobs, starting for Landry, had his first touchdown as a Jaguar.
“They’re playing hard,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “A lot of them are playing over their heads, but then the fever is starting to set in. They’ve got that tradition.”
For TSU, Javarris Williams ran for 107 yars and one TD on only 14 carries. And Antonio Heffner threw for 316 yards – even with just 13 completions – and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions came late in the fourth quarter as the Tigers tried to rally. He also fumbled on the final possession, at the TSU 15-yard line, with 1:45 to play.
“I don’t think there was any momentum swing,” TSU coach James Webster said. “The game was in doubt until the very end, until we fumbled the football at the end.
“We got up on them, and we relaxed on some things. And you can’t relax against a good football team. You just can’t do that.”
No momentum swing? Really?
Southern, once down 27-6 with 6:36 before halftime, outscored Tennessee State 35-7 the rest of the way.
“We had to bounce back,” Southern defensive tackle Dwayne Charles said. “We talked it up. We don’t have any fighting, any arguments. We’re a team, as one. We told (the secondary) to shake it off. Bad things happen. Good teams accomplish stuff when they can overcome the mistakes they make. And that’s what we did.”
The SU defense, mirroring the way they responded after giving up two long touchdowns to Florida A&M in the season opener, clamped down after halftime like the unit has all season.
“The offense loves that,” Lee said.
SU has allowed just two second-half touchdowns this season. The Jaguars forced five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions — in the second half against TSU, which has been turnover-prone this season but had none in the first half.
“We had to come back in the second half, get our mind right and make up for those plays in the first half,” said strong safety Jarmaul George, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year.
George set up a 31-yard Josh Duran field goal for a 41-34 lead with 3:56 remaining with a 30-yard interception return. George has had one interception in three of SU’s four games.
Though the Tigers had slow starts in their first three games, that wasn’t the case Saturday.
A 60-yard flea flicker set up TSU’s first score, a 1-yard Heffner run. Heffner then hit Brandon Belvin on a 61-yard touchdown pass for a 13-0 lead with 9:13 left in the first quarter.
After Jacobs’ TD grab, TSU responded with a 49-yard Williams TD run with 29 seconds left in the first quarter and went up 27-6 on Heffner’s 4-yard pass to Chris Johnson with 6:36 until halftime.
“We had to make adjustments coverage-wise, went to another package and we just went after them,” SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “The guys just stepped up and made plays. God bless them. Those guys have the heart of a champion.”
Southern made a move late in the second quarter, with Darren Coates scoring on easy 31-yard touchdown on a swing pass with 6:03 until halftime and Coates scoring on a 1-yard plunge, one play after breaking loose on a 54-yard burst up the middle.
And two fumble recoveries led to two SU scores in the third quarter.
First, Charles’ recovery of a Heffner fumble at the SU 48 set up Landry’s six-yard score six plays later, closing the Jaguars within 27-25 with 5:42 left in the third. Then, Efe Osawemwenze recovered a Williams fumble at the SU 47, with Coates giving SU a 32-27 lead, also six plays later, with 2:41 left in the third.
Two offensive plays later, TSU answered with Heffner’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Evans to put the Tigers up 34-32.
Then a defensive stand, with TSU facing a third-and-6 at the SU 33, led the Tigers to punt. Heffner was called for intentional grounding as Toyin Akinwale and Donald Steele swarmed him at the Southern 49.
Three plays later, Lee found Roberts for the go-ahead score to put Southern up 38-34 with 10:16 left.
“B. Lee’s a gamer. He does what it takes,” Landry said.
Sounds like Landry could have been talking about all the Jaguars.
To put Southern’s 41-34 thriller of a comeback win over Tennessee State into perspective, look no further than the play that put Southern ahead for good.
Though wide receiver Del Roberts got pushed out of bounds by cornerback Ozzie Harrell along the right sideline, Roberts came back onto the field, hauled in a Bryant Lee pass and picked his way through the defense to complete a 48-yard touchdown.
“He pushed me out of bounds and I never gave up on the play. I kept going,” Roberts said. “That’s the way it works. &hellip I saw the ball the whole time and I had to find it, had to go get it.”
Roberts may just as well have been talking about his entire team.
Southern, showing relentlessness and resilience Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium, overcame a 21-point deficit in the final 36 minutes to overcome Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State (2-2) and remain undefeated through four games this season.
“We have a lot of character on this team,” Southern wide receiver/holder Nick Benjamin said. “I feel like we’re building every week. We’re getting better every week, and we’re getting better as a whole, not individually.”
Photo: SU's Alvin Fosselman celebrates the Jaguars’ victory.Lee, a sophomore, threw for career highs of 305 yards and four touchdowns, with Roberts adding a career-best 110 yards and his first receiving score this season. Senior running back Darren Coates ran for 115 yards and a career-high two TDs while also catching his first career touchdown, a 31-yarder in the second quarter.
The Jaguars played without playmaker Gerard Landry, who was suspended for the first half after being ejected in the fourth quarter of a 12-2 win over Prairie View the week before, but Landry scored on his second catch, a 6-yarder in the third quarter. RaShon Jacobs, starting for Landry, had his first touchdown as a Jaguar.
“They’re playing hard,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “A lot of them are playing over their heads, but then the fever is starting to set in. They’ve got that tradition.”
For TSU, Javarris Williams ran for 107 yars and one TD on only 14 carries. And Antonio Heffner threw for 316 yards – even with just 13 completions – and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions came late in the fourth quarter as the Tigers tried to rally. He also fumbled on the final possession, at the TSU 15-yard line, with 1:45 to play.
“I don’t think there was any momentum swing,” TSU coach James Webster said. “The game was in doubt until the very end, until we fumbled the football at the end.
“We got up on them, and we relaxed on some things. And you can’t relax against a good football team. You just can’t do that.”
No momentum swing? Really?
Southern, once down 27-6 with 6:36 before halftime, outscored Tennessee State 35-7 the rest of the way.
“We had to bounce back,” Southern defensive tackle Dwayne Charles said. “We talked it up. We don’t have any fighting, any arguments. We’re a team, as one. We told (the secondary) to shake it off. Bad things happen. Good teams accomplish stuff when they can overcome the mistakes they make. And that’s what we did.”
The SU defense, mirroring the way they responded after giving up two long touchdowns to Florida A&M in the season opener, clamped down after halftime like the unit has all season.
“The offense loves that,” Lee said.
SU has allowed just two second-half touchdowns this season. The Jaguars forced five turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions — in the second half against TSU, which has been turnover-prone this season but had none in the first half.
“We had to come back in the second half, get our mind right and make up for those plays in the first half,” said strong safety Jarmaul George, the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s preseason defensive player of the year.
George set up a 31-yard Josh Duran field goal for a 41-34 lead with 3:56 remaining with a 30-yard interception return. George has had one interception in three of SU’s four games.
Though the Tigers had slow starts in their first three games, that wasn’t the case Saturday.
A 60-yard flea flicker set up TSU’s first score, a 1-yard Heffner run. Heffner then hit Brandon Belvin on a 61-yard touchdown pass for a 13-0 lead with 9:13 left in the first quarter.
After Jacobs’ TD grab, TSU responded with a 49-yard Williams TD run with 29 seconds left in the first quarter and went up 27-6 on Heffner’s 4-yard pass to Chris Johnson with 6:36 until halftime.
“We had to make adjustments coverage-wise, went to another package and we just went after them,” SU defensive coordinator Terrence Graves said. “The guys just stepped up and made plays. God bless them. Those guys have the heart of a champion.”
Southern made a move late in the second quarter, with Darren Coates scoring on easy 31-yard touchdown on a swing pass with 6:03 until halftime and Coates scoring on a 1-yard plunge, one play after breaking loose on a 54-yard burst up the middle.
And two fumble recoveries led to two SU scores in the third quarter.
First, Charles’ recovery of a Heffner fumble at the SU 48 set up Landry’s six-yard score six plays later, closing the Jaguars within 27-25 with 5:42 left in the third. Then, Efe Osawemwenze recovered a Williams fumble at the SU 47, with Coates giving SU a 32-27 lead, also six plays later, with 2:41 left in the third.
Two offensive plays later, TSU answered with Heffner’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Evans to put the Tigers up 34-32.
Then a defensive stand, with TSU facing a third-and-6 at the SU 33, led the Tigers to punt. Heffner was called for intentional grounding as Toyin Akinwale and Donald Steele swarmed him at the Southern 49.
Three plays later, Lee found Roberts for the go-ahead score to put Southern up 38-34 with 10:16 left.
“B. Lee’s a gamer. He does what it takes,” Landry said.
Sounds like Landry could have been talking about all the Jaguars.
Friday, September 21, 2007
SU, TSU unfamiliar opponents
Photo: Southern free safety Jarmaul George is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
An interesting part about Saturday’s game between Southern and Tennessee State could be in the programs not having played each other since 1996.
In football terms, that means these teams and coaching staffs have not seen one another.
Take note as well, that both SU (3-0) of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference, who meet at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium, have been at their best in the second half, usually when teams make adjustments.
“Most teams you play, you have folders on, but when you don’t play them in so long you might as well throw that stuff away,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “In the conference, you can pull out the tendencies and they’re not going to change that much, if the same guy is calling offense and defense. They may put a wrinkle in here and there, but they won’t change.
“But this is weird because you never get a chance to see them that much. It’s hard to get tendencies on them. You have to spend a lot of time watching film.”
Game tempo will be something to watch.
Southern has scored just six points in the first quarter of its first three games, with that coming on a 90-yard touchdown run on the first play of the season. SU’s best quarter is the second, with 26 points, and the Jaguars have 36 points after halftime.
Tennessee State has 23 first-half points, and just one second-quarter touchdown, this season. The Tigers are best in the fourth quarter, with 27 points, and have 49 of their 72 points (68.1 percent) after halftime (including overtime).
Tennessee State won its last two games by coming back in the fourth quarter.
“That’s a tribute to the coaching staff,” Richardson said. “They have them playing hard for 60 minutes. &hellip Things aren’t going to work out well at times, but you find a way to win. They believe in what they’re doing. &hellip The longer the game goes on, the more physical they are and they turn games around.”
Southern hasn’t allowed a score in the third quarter and just nine points (one TD) in the second half so far.
On Rodgers-Cromartie
There’s a lot of interest in seeing Tennessee State senior cornerback Dominic Rodgers-Cromartie, who, like Southern free safety Jarmaul George, is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. That honor goes to the Football Championship Subdivision’s top defensive player.
“He’s an outstanding football player,” Richardson said. “He’s instinctive, very physical and he also has outstanding speed because he’s a track guy.”
More than just a defensive standout, Rodgers-Cromartie has blocked a field goal and a PAT late to help the Tigers win games.
Both sides of the ball are curious.
Said SU wide receiver Gerard Landry, who is suspended for the first half, “I’m very excited about it. I want to try to go against the best.”
Said George, “This is one of the games I circle, because they have a DB that is up for the same award that I am.”
Talking turnovers
Tennessee State lost four of its six fumbles and had two passes intercepted in a 33-32 overtime win over Austin-Peay. The Tigers, who have lost five fumbles and have been intercepted five times this season, are 108th of 116 FCS teams in turnover margin (minus-2.0).
Said Richardson, “We’re working on stripping the ball out. &hellip I’m quite sure they’re working on ball security, too, to keep that ball off the ground. We have to get it out. That’s the name of the game: turnovers.”
TSU has four takeaways (three fumble recoveries, one interception).
Said TSU coach James Webster, “We cannot continue to commit turnovers and win football games. We must positively get our turnover margin back on the positive side.”
Kick it
Tennessee State junior kicker Eric Benson is 4-for-4 on FGs, with a game-winner and one to send a game into overtime at the end of regulation, and 6-for-8 on PATs, with a game-winner in overtime.
Meanwhile, SU true freshman Josh Duran is 1-for-2 on FGs (good from 30, missing from 37) and 5-for-8 on PATs. SU has gone 0-for-2 on two-point conversion passes from quarterback Bryant Lee. The Jaguars were good on a fake field-goal Saturday against Prairie View, getting a 12-yard TD pass from holder Nick Benjamin to tight end Evan Alexander at the start of the fourth quarter. Had that gamble not worked, SU’s lead would have been 6-0.
“We have to work on (PATs/field-goals/conversions) because we cannot afford to lose points that are free points,” Richardson said. “Eventually, it’s going to come back to haunt you.”
Thoughts on Tenn. State
“If you look at their team play, they’re fundamentally sound,” Richardson said. “They’re aggressive on defense. They play with a lot of energy. A real physical type of football team. Offensively, they have an outstanding quarterback in (Antonio) Heffner. He can really throw the football and cause some problems, because he can also run with it.
“It’ll be tough for us to try to control them.”
Notes
Though Tennessee State is known as the “Big Blue,” Southern is asking its fans to wear blue to the game. Against Prairie View on Saturday, SU fans wore white. Tennessee State has won 14 black college national titles. SU averages 13.0 yards per punt, second to last among FCS teams. SU’s scoring defense of 11.7 ppg is eighth-best nationally, while its pass efficiency defense is ninth best.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
SU tries to get ground attack on track
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriterOne week after Southern ran for 293 yards against Mississippi Valley State, the Jaguars came down to earth, with 67 yards on 31 carries in a 12-2 win over Prairie View.
The rushing total against Valley was the best total since September 2003 and reinforced the 238 rushing yards from the season opener.
Though the rushing total against PV was still better than five anemic totals last season, it was the worst since Mark Orlando became the team’s offensive coordinator for the final three games of last season.
“We have to get our running game started back,” Southern coach Pete Richardson said. “We cannot afford to just sporadically try to throw the football. Our throwing game has evolved around us running the football.”
Southern (3-0) hosts Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.
The Jaguars are 5-1 since making the move to Orlando after a 26-10 loss at Alcorn State in which SU ran for 53 yards on 34 carries.
Saturday’s output, however, was the worst rushing game since SU made the staff move and, concurrent with that, emphasized the ground game.
In the first eight games of last season, Southern had running game clunkers of 1, 57, 63 (against Prairie View), 95, 61 and 53 yards. Since then, SU has run for, in order, 236, 152, 131, 238 and 293 before PV (2-1) corralled the Jaguars to the 67 yards Saturday.
There’s a realization Prairie View, in its third season under defensive coordinator Heishma Northern and with linebacker Zach East, is pretty stout defensively.“Prairie View really came to play,” junior running back Kendrick Smith said.
However, there’s also a concern Northern might have laid down a plan for stopping the Jaguars.
“Prairie View did an outstanding job,” Richardson said. “People will take a look at that.”
Another concern for Saturday is, SU will have to play the first half without senior wide receiver Gerard Landry, who has scored a touchdown in all three games and is the unit’s emotional leader. Landry was ejected midway through the fourth quarter and, by NCAA rules, must sit out the first half.
“You have to be concerned. &hellip It’s going to be a struggle getting to the second half, because he’s made some outstanding plays for us,” Richardson said.
Lee’s completion percentage Saturday was a strong 61.1 percent, but PV kept SU from turning short passes into long gains. Receiver Del Roberts, who turned dink passes into big plays the week before, was held to 38 yards on nine catches.
“It was bad for everybody,” said sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, 4-1 as a starter. “We just didn’t execute the way we wanted to.”
Lee threw for 144 yards and a touchdown and ran for a season-low 21 yards (also a career low in games in which he’s played at least a half).
“He’s a young quarterback and he’s learning, but we were inconsistent, dropping some passes that cost him some big plays,” Richardson said. “Overall, we hung in there with a good football team.”
SU’s offense, meanwhile, has started slowly all season. The Jaguars had minus-6 yards on 10 plays, with three, three-and-outs, in the first quarter.
The Jaguars had to come up with big plays to score Saturday.
Lee hit Landry on a hot read for a 15-yard touchdown on a third-and-9 in the final minute of the first half.
And holder Nick Benjamin found tight end Evan Alexander for a 12-yard TD on a fake field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter.
“The play was inconsistent, offensively, for us,” Richardson said. “Missed assignments caused some problems for us. Of course, a lot of that was caused by Prairie View putting the pressure on us.”
Southern players lauded Tennessee State as having a physical defense and said getting back offensive rhythm will be a challenge.
“We didn’t perform like we were supposed but the defense stepped up,” Smith said. “We have to execute better than we did. In the game we had some mental busts.”
Southern University Lands makes grade on, off the field
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Southern junior defensive end Vince Lands is late to practice, really late, every Tuesday and Thursday.
Nobody minds much.
The players and coaches know what a special student Lands is. He majors in microbiology and minors in chemistry, with an A average, and earned Southwestern Athletic Conference All-Academic honors last year.
They also realize what a special player he is. After getting out of class around 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lands goes to practice, which has already been going on for about two hours.
“Once he gets there, he’s all football player,” SU coach Pete Richardson said.
The SWAC honored Lands as its defensive player of the week, with eight tackles and 2 1/2 sacks in a 12-2 win over Prairie View on Saturday. Richardson gave Lands his personal coach’s award as well. A week earlier, against Florida A&M, he was named the defensive MVP of the Chicago Football Classic.
Putting in the work is the underpinning for everything:
“After film, late at night, I’ll just run around the neighborhood or something,” Lands said of Tuesdays and Thursdays. “I’ll study in the late hours of the night, up to two in the morning,” Lands said of the everyday routine.
At 6-foot-1, 250 pounds, Lands’ game is all about quickness, strength and, of course, plenty of smarts. Lands did a team-best 30 straight bench presses of 275 pounds. For perspective, during the NFL’s combine, the players do the same type of test, only at 225, and 30 would be outstanding even for that lesser weight.
After struggling early last season with cramping late in games, Lands knew conditioning would be a priority this season. So, even while on an internship, the work had to get done.
“His conditioning before we got started is really paying dividends for him,” Richardson said.
Lands didn’t get that strong by toting textbooks, but that’s not far off. His biochemistry and microbial physiology books are companions on road trips — right next to the playbook.
“Even on the road, I bring my books with me, try to catch up with my studies there,” said Lands, who plans on a career as a geriatric internal physician.
Lands spent May and June at an internship at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. He took the Medical College Admission Test during preseason camp.
The overachieving started as a two-way player at Glen Oaks High, where Lands was on Class 4A Academic All-State team in 2003 and on The Advocate’s All-Metro team in ’02. Plus, he was on the track team as a runner. (He’s helped the SU track team, as a thrower.)
At the same time, he was in a medical magnet program and worked Fridays, after games, at a nursing home.
Relentlessness pays off.
“He’s going to be successful — I don’t care what he does — because he’s going to put the time in and he expects results from it,” Richardson said.
Keeping up with Lands on the field or off is nearly impossible for mortals.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
No need to remind players of loss to PVU
VIDEO: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate_Sports/09122007-28.high.flash8.html
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Southern coach Pete Richardson said he’s not talking up last season’s 26-23 overtime loss to Prairie View as incentive for his players before the teams meet at 6 p.m. Saturday in A.W. Mumford Stadium.
He’s either taking the high road or he’s choosing not to waste time stating the obvious.
“I’m not using that as a motivation,” Richardson said. “We have enough individuals who played in that game who understand what happened.
“Our thing is making sure we get focused, get ready to play. Our goal is to get to the championship; it’s not to kill anybody.”
That being said, SU’s first loss in the series since 1971 and the manner in which the game dissolved both stung hard.
“We’ve been looking for this game for 365 days,” said SU linebacker Johnathan Malveaux, who was carted off the field before overtime began and treated for heat exhaustion. “They really embarrassed us, but now we call this the payback.”
Southern blew a 14-point lead, at 20-6, and had the ball at the PV 15-yard line with 5:15 remaining before fumbling consecutive snaps, with the Panthers turning those into touchdowns to tie the game and bring on overtime.
“It was a game we should have won,” George said.
In the three preceding meetings alone, Southern had scored blowouts of 38-0, 42-12 and 62-7, continuing a series that’s been lopsided since the 1970s.
PV has improved under Henry Frazier III, and this season’s edition, at 2-0 like SU, may be the best yet. The school has restored scholarships after not having any in the 1990s, when PV set a record with 80 straight losses. Last season, though, even with five minutes left, the game didn’t seem to be the one that would provide a breakthrough against one of the SWAC’s traditional powers.
“It was horrible,” said sophomore running back Brian Threat, who had season bests of six carries and 26 yards that day. “I never want to re-live that again.”
The instant aftermath came with Prairie View players celebrating wildly and some taunting as Southern players stared on in disbelief.
“I have a memory of a guy taunting me, standing over my head, laughing at me,” senior strong safety Jarmaul George, a team co-captain this year, who was stretched out on the Tully Stadium artificial surface as a PV player danced atop him. “But now this is our year.”
Then, as Southern players got on the buses heading home, the cell calls started coming. And then they had to answer more questions from stunned classmates the next week.
Players this week have talked about how much last season’s loss hurt the older players.
“The main thing is, it’s payback week,” junior defensive tackle Joseph Selders said. “We were 2-0 going into Prairie View last year and we had a letdown late in the game. We’re going to try to pay them back this year.
“We’re going to show them Saturday who the real Jaguars are.”
He’s either taking the high road or he’s choosing not to waste time stating the obvious.
“I’m not using that as a motivation,” Richardson said. “We have enough individuals who played in that game who understand what happened.
“Our thing is making sure we get focused, get ready to play. Our goal is to get to the championship; it’s not to kill anybody.”
That being said, SU’s first loss in the series since 1971 and the manner in which the game dissolved both stung hard.
“We’ve been looking for this game for 365 days,” said SU linebacker Johnathan Malveaux, who was carted off the field before overtime began and treated for heat exhaustion. “They really embarrassed us, but now we call this the payback.”
Southern blew a 14-point lead, at 20-6, and had the ball at the PV 15-yard line with 5:15 remaining before fumbling consecutive snaps, with the Panthers turning those into touchdowns to tie the game and bring on overtime.
“It was a game we should have won,” George said.
In the three preceding meetings alone, Southern had scored blowouts of 38-0, 42-12 and 62-7, continuing a series that’s been lopsided since the 1970s.
PV has improved under Henry Frazier III, and this season’s edition, at 2-0 like SU, may be the best yet. The school has restored scholarships after not having any in the 1990s, when PV set a record with 80 straight losses. Last season, though, even with five minutes left, the game didn’t seem to be the one that would provide a breakthrough against one of the SWAC’s traditional powers.
“It was horrible,” said sophomore running back Brian Threat, who had season bests of six carries and 26 yards that day. “I never want to re-live that again.”
The instant aftermath came with Prairie View players celebrating wildly and some taunting as Southern players stared on in disbelief.
“I have a memory of a guy taunting me, standing over my head, laughing at me,” senior strong safety Jarmaul George, a team co-captain this year, who was stretched out on the Tully Stadium artificial surface as a PV player danced atop him. “But now this is our year.”
Then, as Southern players got on the buses heading home, the cell calls started coming. And then they had to answer more questions from stunned classmates the next week.
Players this week have talked about how much last season’s loss hurt the older players.
“The main thing is, it’s payback week,” junior defensive tackle Joseph Selders said. “We were 2-0 going into Prairie View last year and we had a letdown late in the game. We’re going to try to pay them back this year.
“We’re going to show them Saturday who the real Jaguars are.”
Southern University 's 'Sunshine' walks off into sunset
Photo: #12 J.C. Lewis
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
There’s a redshirt sophomore running Southern’s offense these days, and Bryant Lee has shown he can be a pretty good one.
The thing is, though, the last guy to start as a redshirt sophomore, J.C. Lewis, can tell him all about how uncertain the road can be.
Lewis — a fifth-year senior known as “Sunshine” after the cool, California quarterback in “Remember the Titans” — walked into coach Pete Richardson’s office and called it a career Monday.
It’s a sad ending. It’s life. It’s football.
He finished as SU’s sixth-best passer all-time. And like Lee, Lewis once had so much going for him. Early last year, Lewis seemed a shoe-in to make the top two on that all-time list, behind Eric Randall.
First, the overtime disaster to Prairie View and a concussion/five-interception loss to North Carolina Central. Lewis, out for two games, started just one more game, in November against Texas Southern, but his last play came as he lowered his throwing shoulder on a block and got hurt. Lee has since become the starter.
So, after watching from the sideline for two games, Lewis went to see Richardson on Monday.
Said Lewis, “It was hard. Coach told me he appreciated the time I was here. It was more kind of a mutual thing. I guess he was kind of sad for me to go, but he also respected my decision to go.”
Said Richardson, “I’m kind of proud he made a decision he felt comfortable with.”
Lewis — who came to SU in June 2003 on a Monday after graduating that Friday — missed a lot of spring practice to finish his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in May. Then he spent the summer working for his mom’s real estate investment company in Houston.
He said he thought about not returning this fall, but when he was accepted to graduate school in mathematics, he came back.
But then his classes are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and conflicted with quarterbacks meetings.
“Eventually, that was going to put me further and further behind,” Lewis said.
Lewis has done what his parents insisted: gotten a degree and starting on another, while on scholarship.
“It really just came down to I just wasn’t going to play at all,” said Lewis, who will now sit down with his parents and talk about the future this weekend. “For me to play, two guys in front of me had to get hurt or we had to be doing really bad. I felt it was time for me to move on.”
Lewis also has done all a school can ask as well. He’ll be remembered for his coolness — as in easy-going, likeable and hard-to-rattle. Teammates named him a co-captain entering last season.
He’ll also be remembered for taking vicious blows (28 sacks in a nine-game 2005 season) that made Richardson, even after a lifetime around the game, wince. The elbow. The ribs. The shoulder. And most importantly, the noggin. Hits add up.
Lewis, who still throws a pretty ball, picked the right time to leave the pocket for good. The thing is, though, new days come, no matter how fondly the days of Sunshine are remembered.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Southern QB Lee shines on game day
Photo: Bryant Lee completed 22 of 29 passes, 215 yards and one TD in last week's 33-27 win over Florida A&M University.
By Joseph Schiefelbein, Advocate sportswriter
Players would rather be considered a “gamer,” than a “practicer.”
And being a “gamer” is where Southern sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee falls.
“He’s a nonchalant individual,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “He’s not going to say a lot. The thing about him, you watch him practice and you swear he can’t play.
“But you put him out there and all of a sudden the lights go on. That’s all you’re looking for.”
Lee was 22-for-29 for 215 yards and a touchdown and ran for 50 yards and another TD Saturday while being named Southern’s MVP in the Jaguars’ 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.
Southern (1-0) opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Mississippi Valley State (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Chicago Football Classic at Legion Field in Chicago.
“People said, ‘Were you surprised?’,” Richardson said. “Well, he got the MVP in the Bayou Classic and came right back and got it in the other game. I expect him to get it this game, too.”
Lee is getting comfortable with his reputation. Just don’t make too much of the easy-going manner.
“I care,” said Lee, who used to come after practice to throw when he was deep on the depth chart and didn’t get many practice reps last season. “I’m laid-back in a way. But once game time is on, I’m ready. I’ve always been that way.
“I get excited. It’s just me being me, really. I’m a jokester, but I get on (players), too.”
Teammates enjoy Lee’s demeanor. As it is, senior left tackle Trent Thomas said fifth-year senior quarterback J.C. Lewis, third on the depth chart, is even more easy-going.
“I like Bryant Lee,” senior running back Darren Coates said. “To me, he’s a great kid. He clowns a lot. We have fun. That’s what the game is about, having fun.
“He’s a great competitor. He loves the game. He’s going to give it all he’s got, every play. He’s cool. He knows when to fire it up and when to relax.”
Richardson said being a fiery leader will come.
“You have to learn that part,” Richardson said. “Once you get the experience, you earn that. Eventually, that will come.
“He did a good job of commanding the football team and orchestrating our offense. As long as he does that and stays away from the street committee, he’ll be alright.”
Sleepy Jaguars
Richardson said he had worries about his young team prior to Saturday’s 33-27 win over Florida A&M.
“I was concerned because, really, we had a tired football team,” Richardson said. “We got up on Saturday morning and you can say, ‘Go to bed,’ but when you have an experienced football team, a lot of them didn’t get a lot of sleep that night. Especially the inexperienced. They’re excited about it, and they’re not going to go to sleep.
“What helped us a great deal was opening up and scoring that touchdown (Coates’ 90-yard run on the first play).”
How’s Valley’s QB?
Saturday’s game will match two sophomore starting quarterbacks, and neither played in last season’s meeting.
Richardson got his first look at Valley’s Paul Roberts, who was 15-for-27 for 153 yards and one touchdown (but was sacked four times), on film of Valley’s 16-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“I think he’s a good quarterback,” Richardson said. “He throws the ball well. As far as progressions, he’s patient.”
“They have a great offense,” SU strong safety Glenn Bell said. “They have a young quarterback who really surprised me, who stepped up. They have a great running back, a great offensive line. It’s going to be a nice challenge.”
SU relies on WR depth
Starters Gerard Landry, Del Roberts and Juamorris Stewart had 12 of Southern’s 22 catches Saturday. But Clevan White, backing Roberts at “Y,” had three catches for 23 yards and RaShon Jacobs, behind Landry at “X,” had two catches for 34 yards.
“It kind of came to fruition, where you saw where the depth was needed and it helped out,” SU wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said. “Those guys who worked on the second team worked as hard as those guys on the first team, and they stepped up when they needed to.”
By Joseph Schiefelbein, Advocate sportswriter
Players would rather be considered a “gamer,” than a “practicer.”
And being a “gamer” is where Southern sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee falls.
“He’s a nonchalant individual,” SU coach Pete Richardson said. “He’s not going to say a lot. The thing about him, you watch him practice and you swear he can’t play.
“But you put him out there and all of a sudden the lights go on. That’s all you’re looking for.”
Lee was 22-for-29 for 215 yards and a touchdown and ran for 50 yards and another TD Saturday while being named Southern’s MVP in the Jaguars’ 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.
Southern (1-0) opens Southwestern Athletic Conference play against Mississippi Valley State (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Chicago Football Classic at Legion Field in Chicago.
“People said, ‘Were you surprised?’,” Richardson said. “Well, he got the MVP in the Bayou Classic and came right back and got it in the other game. I expect him to get it this game, too.”
Lee is getting comfortable with his reputation. Just don’t make too much of the easy-going manner.
“I care,” said Lee, who used to come after practice to throw when he was deep on the depth chart and didn’t get many practice reps last season. “I’m laid-back in a way. But once game time is on, I’m ready. I’ve always been that way.
“I get excited. It’s just me being me, really. I’m a jokester, but I get on (players), too.”
Teammates enjoy Lee’s demeanor. As it is, senior left tackle Trent Thomas said fifth-year senior quarterback J.C. Lewis, third on the depth chart, is even more easy-going.
“I like Bryant Lee,” senior running back Darren Coates said. “To me, he’s a great kid. He clowns a lot. We have fun. That’s what the game is about, having fun.
“He’s a great competitor. He loves the game. He’s going to give it all he’s got, every play. He’s cool. He knows when to fire it up and when to relax.”
Richardson said being a fiery leader will come.
“You have to learn that part,” Richardson said. “Once you get the experience, you earn that. Eventually, that will come.
“He did a good job of commanding the football team and orchestrating our offense. As long as he does that and stays away from the street committee, he’ll be alright.”
Sleepy Jaguars
Richardson said he had worries about his young team prior to Saturday’s 33-27 win over Florida A&M.
“I was concerned because, really, we had a tired football team,” Richardson said. “We got up on Saturday morning and you can say, ‘Go to bed,’ but when you have an experienced football team, a lot of them didn’t get a lot of sleep that night. Especially the inexperienced. They’re excited about it, and they’re not going to go to sleep.
“What helped us a great deal was opening up and scoring that touchdown (Coates’ 90-yard run on the first play).”
How’s Valley’s QB?
Saturday’s game will match two sophomore starting quarterbacks, and neither played in last season’s meeting.
Richardson got his first look at Valley’s Paul Roberts, who was 15-for-27 for 153 yards and one touchdown (but was sacked four times), on film of Valley’s 16-9 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
“I think he’s a good quarterback,” Richardson said. “He throws the ball well. As far as progressions, he’s patient.”
“They have a great offense,” SU strong safety Glenn Bell said. “They have a young quarterback who really surprised me, who stepped up. They have a great running back, a great offensive line. It’s going to be a nice challenge.”
SU relies on WR depth
Starters Gerard Landry, Del Roberts and Juamorris Stewart had 12 of Southern’s 22 catches Saturday. But Clevan White, backing Roberts at “Y,” had three catches for 23 yards and RaShon Jacobs, behind Landry at “X,” had two catches for 34 yards.
“It kind of came to fruition, where you saw where the depth was needed and it helped out,” SU wide receivers coach Eric Dooley said. “Those guys who worked on the second team worked as hard as those guys on the first team, and they stepped up when they needed to.”
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Grambling vs. University of Pittsburgh
Grambling State Sports Information
After an impressive season-opening win against Alcorn State last week in Mississippi, the Grambling State Tigers return to the drawing board for a huge test against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and BIG EAST member Pittsburgh.
After an impressive season-opening win against Alcorn State last week in Mississippi, the Grambling State Tigers return to the drawing board for a huge test against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and BIG EAST member Pittsburgh.
Saturday’s game will mark the first time in nearly 40 years that Grambling State will return to the steel city. The Tigers will square off against the Panthers in Heinz Field, which is also the home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.
LAST WEEK’S RESULT: GSU 31, ALCORN STATE 10, SEPT. 1, 2007
In a debut that couldn’t have been scripted any better, the Grambling State Tigers dominated all three facets of the game as the Tigers rolled past Alcorn State 31-10 in the debut of GSU head coach Rod Broadway on Saturday night in Jack Spinks Stadium on the campus of Alcorn State University.
After two possessions, GSU wasted no time on its third series of the first quarter as junior quarterback Brandon Landers hit a streaking Reginald Jackson for 44 yards to score the first touchdown in the Broadway era. In the second quarter, Landers connected with Clyde Edwards on a 4-yard score. The PAT by Tim Manuel was good and GSU upped its lead to 14-0. After a fumble recovery late in the half, GSU moved ahead 17-0 after a 22-yard field goal by Manuel with 24 seconds left in the half.
Ahead 17-0 entering the second half, the Tigers picked up where they left off of Jackson’s 69-yard touchdown pass for a 24-0 lead. ASU added a field goal with 5:41 left in the third quarter to find the scoreboard but the Tigers once again responded with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Landers to Edwards. ASU added a late touchdown in the final quarter but it was too little too late.
Offensively, GSU netted 479 yards (303 P, 176 R) of total offense while ASU finished with 255 (155 P, 100 R). Freshman Frank Warren rushed for 143 yards on 30 carries while Landers was 19-of-36 for 303 yards and four TDs. Jackson had a career-high 198 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Grambling State opened a lot of eyes last weekend after dismantling the Alcorn State Braves 31-10 before more than 16,000 spectators in Alcorn State, Miss. In addition, the Tigers also debuted new offensive and defensive schemes and had plenty of success on both sides of the ball en route to capturing their first season opener since 2005.
After one week of play, the offensive stars for Grambling State were senior wideout Reginald Jackson, freshman running back Frank Warren and quarterback Brandon Landers. Defensively, linebacker John Carter led the way with six tackles while defensive end John Scroggins and defensive back Brandon Logan posted four each.
Under the direction of first-year head coach Rod Broadway, the Tigers feature an abundance of youth on the roster in addition to 33 letterwinners and 13 starters.
Despite finishing 3-8 in 2006, the Tigers were picked to finish second in the SWAC West during the annual preseason poll in addition to four preseason All-SWAC selections.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
Pittsburgh opened the 2007 season with a 27-3 victory over Eastern Michigan in non-conference action last Saturday at Heinz Field. Although the Panthers walked away with the win, they suffered a huge loss on the field as starting quarterback Bill Stull suffered a thumb injury that required surgery.
As a result, the Panthers will rely on a green quarterback but whomever assumes the position will have an experienced offensive lineup to work with as the Panthers return eight starters from the 2006 campaign. Defensively, six Panther starters are back from last season.
Under the guidance of former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh was picked to finish sixth in the BIG EAST this season after finishing sixth with a 6-6 record in 2006.
BIG EAST Ties
Saturday’s contest marks GSU’s first-ever match-up against an opponent who’s a current member of the BIG EAST conference. However, it won’t mark the first time GSU has played a team with BIG EAST ties as they’ve battled current member Louisville and former member Temple in the past.
While a member of Conference USA in 2000, GSU traveled to the state of Kentucky to meet Louisville in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals won 52-0 against former head coach Doug Williams.
Grambling State holds a 1-1 record against former BIG EAST member Temple. GSU lost the inaugural match-up 31-30 in 1976 in Philadelphia before winning the rematch 35-32 in 1977 during the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan.
PLAYING UP
This marks the fourth time in five years that Grambling State will face an opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks. Last year, GSU played eventual Conference USA champion the University of Houston and fell 42-22. In 2005, GSU ventured to Seattle, Wash. and took on Washington State at Qwest Field en route to a 48-7 defeat. During the 2003 campaign, GSU opened the season on national television (ESPN2) against San Jose State in the Literacy Classic. The Tigers lost 29-0 on the road.
Pitt won’t be the only FBS program GSU will face in 2007 as they’ll battle in-state foe and Sun Belt Conference member Louisiana at Monroe on Nov. 10.
GSU vs. FBS OPPONENTS
While the world buzzed about fellow FCS member Appalachian State’s win over FBS power Michigan last weekend, GSU has also had success playing larger opponents in the past. GSU defeated Temple in 1977 and holds a 2-0 record versus Oregon State of the Pac-10 Conference.
However, Pittsburgh has done its part when it comes to FCS opponents. The Panthers sport a 6-0 all-time record against FCS teams and average 45.2 points in those six games along with two shutouts. Only Villanova in 1998 (48-41) and Furman (41-38 OT) in 2004 have come close to beating the Panthers.
RETURN TO THE STEEL CITY
Thirty-six years have elapsed since Grambling State played in the city of Pittsburgh. On Sept. 12, 1970, the Tigers battled Morgan State University in Three Rivers Stadium in the Renaissance Football Classic. GSU was successful as they won 38-12.
ALMOST LIKE HOME
While some teams get caught up in the hoopla of playing in an NFL Facility, it’s almost second nature to Grambling State as the Tigers are guaranteed of playing in at least one NFL venue per year.
Annually, GSU plays in the Louisiana Superdome in the State Farm Bayou Classic against rival Southern University on Thanksgiving weekend. In 2005, GSU played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash. against Washington State in addition to Reliant Stadium in Houston versus Southern.
HISTORY NOT WORTH REPEATING
Grambling State’s 3-8 finish in 2006 marked its worst record since the 1997 season when the Tigers finished the season 3-8.
Losing seasons are rare as Grambling State hasn’t loss more than six games in a season since identical 3-8 seasons in 1996 and 1997. GSU has only posted nine seasons since 1950 with a losing record.
BROADWAY IN SEPTEMBER
The month of September has been generous to head coach Rod Broadway as he’s 15-2 in the month.
Broadway posted back-to-back 3-1 September records in 2003 and 2004 before netting consecutive 4-0 campaigns in 2005 and 2006.
GATOR REUNION
Tiger head coach Rod Broadway and current Pitt receivers coach Aubrey Hill were on the same staff at the University of Florida from 1996-98.
Broadway served as the Gators’ defensive line coach while Hill was a graduate assistant. Together, they were apart of a staff headed by Steve Spurrier that helped Florida win the 1996 national championship.
In addition, both coaches also made stops in the Atlantic Coast Conference at Duke. Broadway was at Duke from 1981 to 1994 while Hill coached at Duke from 1999 to 2003.
CLYDE’S TIME TO GLIDE
Senior wide receiver Clyde Edwards is quietly closing in on several marks as he closes out his career at Grambling State.
The senior from Houston, Texas is tied for 11th among SWAC All-Time receiving leaders with an 11-touchdown performance last season and currently ranks 13th among the SWAC’s career receiving leaders with 2,412 yards. In addition, he has caught at least one pass in 27 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season and enters the 2007 season ranked as the 7th best receiver in the Football Championship Subdivision by The Sports Network.
An honor student in the classroom (3.9 GPA), here are the records Edwards is within reach of:
Needs 739 yards to surpass Scotty Anderson (3,182) as Grambling State’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
Needs 9 touchdowns to surpass Anderson (35) as the Tigers’ all-time leader for career receiving touchdowns.
Needs 51 receptions to become GSU’s all-time leader in receptions. Tramon Douglas leads with 193.
Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band
SU Coates bursts onto national TV
By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN, Advocate sportswriter
Teammates kept gently chiming the ESPN SportsCenter theme music as they walked by.
It’s nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates these days. It’s real nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates after going 90 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive play in his first start.
The burst, up the middle of the line and down the right sideline, made ESPN’s nightly top 10 as well as a college football recap top 10 later.
The telephone calls started coming as the Jaguars rode home Saturday night after their 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.
“The coaches came to the back of the bus where I was and told me about it,” Coates said. “It was a very exciting moment for me.”
The play — as well as the SportsCenter recognition — was reminiscent of the way Southern started its magical 2003 season, with Ezra Landry taking the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown in a 29-0 romp over Mississippi Valley State.
Sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, in his third start, told Coates to score before the offense took the field.
“I guess he knew what the play was going to be,” Coates said. “He told me from jump, ‘I’m going to hand you the ball, and it’s up to you to take it to the house.’ We got good blocks by our offensive linemen. The hole was open, so I just had to make a move and take it to the house.”
SU coach Pete Richardson said the TD run for a young team coming off two losing seasons “kind of psyched them up.”
Coates, a senior, had totaled 119 yards and one touchdown last season. Those were his only career stats, and 52 of those yards and his only touchdown came in the season-ending Bayou Classic.
Saturday, Coates had 142 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 3-yard plunge for the go-ahead score midway through the third quarter, on just 10 rushes — 14.2 yards per carry. That one-game performance already bettered the best from last season, Kendall Addison’s 133 yards against Texas Southern.
Coates’ day confirmed the difference made by the combination of his offseason work, the jolt of confidence from the end of last season and the addition of first-year running backs coach Elvis Joseph.
Coates looked like a different back — in body type and in running style — in preseason camp, and the improvements showed Saturday.
“Only good things can happen for him if our offensive line can hold up without any major injuries,” Richardson said.
Powered by Coates, Southern totaled 238 rushing yards. That total is better than the season-best 236 in the win over Texas Southern last season.
What’s more, in the season opener a year ago, SU had 1 yard on 20 carries in a 30-29 victory over Bethune-Cookman College (and the Jaguars totaled 226 yards on 113 carries, never breaking 100 yards, in their first four games).
Ahead comes a big challenge.
Valley clamped down on two of the conference’s best running backs, Martel Mallett (23 yards on five carries) and Mickey Dean (19 yards on nine carries) in a 16-9 win Saturday.
The Delta Devils also made four sacks and recovered two fumbles.
Southern (1-0) faces Valley (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“They look to put everybody in the box (the area near the line of scrimmage), really like FAMU, with fast linebackers, bring it, push everybody to the ball,” Coates said. “So we have to bring the same intensity.”
Teammates kept gently chiming the ESPN SportsCenter theme music as they walked by.
It’s nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates these days. It’s real nice to be Southern’s Darren Coates after going 90 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive play in his first start.
The burst, up the middle of the line and down the right sideline, made ESPN’s nightly top 10 as well as a college football recap top 10 later.
The telephone calls started coming as the Jaguars rode home Saturday night after their 33-27 victory over Florida A&M in Birmingham, Ala.
“The coaches came to the back of the bus where I was and told me about it,” Coates said. “It was a very exciting moment for me.”
The play — as well as the SportsCenter recognition — was reminiscent of the way Southern started its magical 2003 season, with Ezra Landry taking the opening kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown in a 29-0 romp over Mississippi Valley State.Sophomore quarterback Bryant Lee, in his third start, told Coates to score before the offense took the field.
“I guess he knew what the play was going to be,” Coates said. “He told me from jump, ‘I’m going to hand you the ball, and it’s up to you to take it to the house.’ We got good blocks by our offensive linemen. The hole was open, so I just had to make a move and take it to the house.”
SU coach Pete Richardson said the TD run for a young team coming off two losing seasons “kind of psyched them up.”
Coates, a senior, had totaled 119 yards and one touchdown last season. Those were his only career stats, and 52 of those yards and his only touchdown came in the season-ending Bayou Classic.
Saturday, Coates had 142 yards and two touchdowns, adding a 3-yard plunge for the go-ahead score midway through the third quarter, on just 10 rushes — 14.2 yards per carry. That one-game performance already bettered the best from last season, Kendall Addison’s 133 yards against Texas Southern.
Coates’ day confirmed the difference made by the combination of his offseason work, the jolt of confidence from the end of last season and the addition of first-year running backs coach Elvis Joseph.
Coates looked like a different back — in body type and in running style — in preseason camp, and the improvements showed Saturday.
“Only good things can happen for him if our offensive line can hold up without any major injuries,” Richardson said.
Powered by Coates, Southern totaled 238 rushing yards. That total is better than the season-best 236 in the win over Texas Southern last season.
What’s more, in the season opener a year ago, SU had 1 yard on 20 carries in a 30-29 victory over Bethune-Cookman College (and the Jaguars totaled 226 yards on 113 carries, never breaking 100 yards, in their first four games).
Ahead comes a big challenge.
Valley clamped down on two of the conference’s best running backs, Martel Mallett (23 yards on five carries) and Mickey Dean (19 yards on nine carries) in a 16-9 win Saturday.
The Delta Devils also made four sacks and recovered two fumbles.
Southern (1-0) faces Valley (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago.
“They look to put everybody in the box (the area near the line of scrimmage), really like FAMU, with fast linebackers, bring it, push everybody to the ball,” Coates said. “So we have to bring the same intensity.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)