Jaguars not taking win-less TSU lightly

Yes. Southern can’t overlook TSU (0-8, 0-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) as it needs to win its remaining three SWAC games and have Grambling lose to Alabama State Saturday in Montgomery, Ala. to reach the championship game.
Southern (6-2, 4-2 SWAC) couldn’t have had its bye week come at a better time as injuries piled up and the Jaguars stumbled to a 1-2 record in October after winning its first five games.
“It was good to be off last week because we had been at it for almost three months,” Southern head coach Pete Richardson said. “I think it really started to affect the mental and physical condition of our football team.”
The bye week also helped starting center Demarcus Stewart (calf), quarterback Bryant Lee (ankle) and running back Kendrick Smith (achilles) recover from their injuries enough to play against TSU.
“Our goal is to try to improve every week,” Richardson said. “I thought we made some progress against Alcorn, but we still have a long way to go as a football team.”
Last week Grambling blasted TSU, 57-9 but despite its winless record, Richardson knows his team can’t afford to look past them.
“TSU is a unique type of football team,” Richardson said. “They’re 0-8 but when you look at the personnel on their football team, they’re not a 0-8 team. They lead the conference in passing and have an excellent quarterback that throws the ball exceptionally well and they have some receivers that can catch the football and make some things happen once they get their hands on it.”
Quarterback Tino Edgecombe who is 121-for-226 with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions leads TSU. Wide receivers Brian Haith (36 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns), Daniel Davis (26 receptions for 305 yards and three touchdowns) and William Osborne (27 receptions for 276 yards and two touchdowns) make up a huge chunk of TSU’s offense as well.
Defensively the Tigers aren’t as solid. Although they apply pressure to opposing quarterback and are led by SWAC’s ninth leading tackler in senior linebacker Michael Boyd (59 tackles, 31 solo, 12 tackles for loss, one sack and three forced fumbles) and defensive end Derrick Gray (50 tackles, 28 solo, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles), they have struggled.
“Defensively they’re always aggressive,” Richardson said. “I think Boyd and Gray do an excellent job of applying pressure, so I think it’s going to be a big challenge for us. They’ll be excited about playing because we’re playing in Reliant. Anytime a college team has an opportunity to play in those types of conditions, they’re going to be ready to go.”
In fact, TSU’s scoring defense ranks last in the SWAC giving up 37.4 points per game. The Tigers have surrendered 299 points this season, good for 40 touchdowns, 35 extra points and eight field goals.
Their rush defense is vulnerable also, as it ranks last in the SWAC giving up 4.6 yards per carry and 195.5 yards per game. TSU has also allowed 14 rushing touchdowns. But pass defense is where TSU is strongest, ranking fifth in the SWAC only allowing 173 yards per game, good for 6.9 yards per completion, 20 touchdowns allowed and seven interceptions.
Surprisingly TSU’s pass defense is better than Southern’s. Coming into the season the secondary was looked at as Southern’s deepest and most experienced group, but even that hasn’t defensive stops. Southern ranks ninth in SWAC in terms of pass defense allowing 211.8 yards per game and 6.0 yards per reception. The Jaguars have 14 interceptions and allowed 12 passing touchdowns.
“The challenge is going to be there for us,” Richardson said. “I think going into the game our players practiced the last few days and I see they’re recharged. A lot of them are excited about having the opportunity to play and some of them are feeling less pain as far as the injuries. That’s the thing you have to look forward to.”
“We have to play game to game and let the rest of it take care of itself,” Richardson said.
Southern and TSU will meet in Houston in Reliant Stadium. Southern is 2-1 in games played in Reliant Stadium with its only loss coming in the 2005 Bayou Classic. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m.
Southern vs. TSU
Southern has dominated TSU during Richardson’s 15-year tenure. His teams have gone 13-1 against TSU and won the first nine consecutive meetings of Richardson’s era.
Keys to Victory
• Run football effectively
• Protect quarterback
• Contain Edgecombe
• Cut down on defensive mistakes
Injuries
• Lee (ankle, 90%)
• Landry (ankle, day-to-day)
• Malveaux (ankle, 80%)
• Stewart (calf, 80%)
• Baugh (knee, out)
HBCU Polls
Southern stayed in fifth place in this week’s Sheridan Broadcasting Poll. The Jaguars are ninth in the Black College Sports Page Poll.