LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
With COVID-19 issues still wreaking havoc with the league’s schedule, the SWAC East Division takes center stage this week with two games that will have a bearing on who will represent the division in the May 1 league football championship game.
The Southern at Prairie View A&M game scheduled for Saturday has been postponed because of on-going COVID-19 protocols at Prairie View.
Alabama A&M (2-0, 1-0 E) at Jackson State (3-2, 2-1 E)
Connell Maynor’s Alabama A&M Bulldogs will finally get on the field Saturday for the first time since an impressive 31-7 win over defending MEAC co-champion South Carolina State on March 6.
That win itself was a last-minute addition to the schedule after division member Mississippi Valley State had to pause because of positive COVID-19 tests. Since then, the Bulldogs have had two dates vs. Prairie View A&M (March 20 and April 3) and a date against Grambling State (March 27) cancelled for the same reason. The MVSU game has been re-scheduled for April 24.
In contrast to A&M, Jackson State and head coach Deion (Coach Prime) Sanders will be playing their sixth game of the season. After opening with three wins over Edward Waters, Mississippi Valley State and Grambling State, the Tigers have dropped back-to-back decisions to Alabama State and Southern. Based on the SWAC’s configuration for division titles, the Southern loss does not figure in the conference standings.
That means JSU is still in the hunt as it hosts A&M this Saturday (2 p.m.) in a game to be carried live on ESPN.
“It’ll be a big game,” said Maynor on Mon[1]day’s SWAC Teleconference. “They’re still in it on their side. I think its homecoming up there and a national television game. We’re just ready to play again, man. We’ve only played one football game, so we’re ready to hit somebody else. We look forward to this opportunity. It’s a big opportunity. It should be a great football and we’re looking forward to it.”
A&M’s rust from not facing outside competition for the last month should figure in the outcome. Standout quarterback Aqeel Glass, the preseason SWAC offensive player of the year, will lead a balanced Bulldog offense into battle that features running back Gary Quarles and a trio of outstanding receivers – Abdul-Fattai Ibrahim, Brian Jenkins Jr., and Odieu Hilaire.
“They definitely have an offensive-minded coach, a quarterback that can spin it, some guys that can go down there and go get it,” said Sanders of Maynor, a former quarterback himself, and his talented players. “We have to challenge people on every single play to make you earn it.”
Sanders said his team did not do enough to challenge Southern in last week’s loss. Southern put up 474 yards of offense in the win.
“We’ve got to challenge them (A&M),” he said.
Jalon Jones, who put up 277 yards of offense vs. Southern, is expected to start at quarterback. Daylen Baldwin, who had a 75-yard TD reception vs. Southern, and Corey Reed Jr., who scored JSU’s other touchdown on a 20- yard reception, are the chief offensive weapons. Florida State transfer cornerback Isaiah Bolden went down vs. Southern and is questionable.
Mississippi Valley State (0-2, 0-2 E) at Alabama State (2-2, 2-1 E)
Alabama State comes in only a half-game behind Alabama A&M and tied with Jackson State for second in the East. The Hornets will be facing a winless but improving team in the Delta Devils.
After its big win over Jackson State two weeks ago, Donald Hill-Eley’s ASU troops lost on the road 14-7 last week at South Carolina State. MVSU took West Division leader Arkansas-Pine Bluff into late in the fourth quarter before a 77-yard punt return sent it to a 24-17 loss.
Alabama State needs a win to set up its big rivalry game, perhaps for the division lead, next week in Birmingham’s Circle City Classic at Legion Field vs. Alabama A&M. Vincent Dancy’s Delta Devils would like nothing better than to throw themselves into the fray with an upset win.
Dancy, who thought his team played well enough to defeat Pine Bluff, says his team needs to put more points on the board and cut down on mistakes.
ASU quarterback Ryan Nettles threw for 191 yards (20 of 37) but threw two picks and could only manufacture one TD vs. SCSU. He also led the Hornets with 37 rushing yards as the Bulldogs’ defense held Ezra Gray to 36 yards on 17 carries.
Linebacker Irshaad Davis led the ASU defense with 11 stops. MVSU trailed UAPB 17-3 at the end of three quarters but fought back to tie the game at 17 behind two fourth-quarter TD runs of 4 and 50 yards by Caleb Hunter. Hunter finished with 70 rushing yards on 13 carries.
MVSU quarterback Jalani Eason was efficient completing 14 of 24 passes without a pick but only threw for 104 yards. The Devils however lost two fumbles. Both Eason and Hunter will have to be more productive Saturday to get by ASU.
The MVSU defense stepped up in the second half vs. UAPB and totalled eight tackles for losses and two sacks in the game. Senior defensive back Kharee Lockley led the Delta Devils with three tackles for losses including a sack.