Jaguars look to remain unbeaten, focused against Alabama A&M

It’s not how you start the game, but how you finish. That’s what Southern coach Pete Richardson has told his team all season, and that’s what he reiterated Wednesday at his weekly press luncheon.It’s homecoming and this is the first time the Jaguars have been (5-0, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) at this point in the season since 2003. That season Southern went 12-1, winning SWAC and Black College National Championships.But, the Jaguars hosts high scoring Alabama A&M (4-1, 2-1) team whose only loss came to Grambling State, 31-6. AAMU is averaging 37.8 points per game.”When you look at AAMU, I think you look at a fine football team,” said Richardson. “They’re well coached. They play with a lot of confidence and probably have the most experienced quarterback in the whole conference at this time.”The quarterback Richardson is referring to is Kelcy Luke. So far this season Luke has completed 88 of 150 pass attempts for 1,161 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s also rushed 46 times for 90 yards and one touchdown.Another playmaker on AAMU’s side is its starting running back Ulysses Banks. Banks has 66 carries for 491 yards and four touchdowns. He also has eight catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while returning 10 kicks for 182 yards.”The thing that’s making them go offensively is the running back, Banks,” Richardson said. “He’s a very special player. He returns punts, kickoffs and is the starting running back. He’s the type of individual that can make things happen, so it’s going to be a challenge to try to control him.”Richardson nominated senior running back Darren Coates and junior strong safety Glenn Bell as his players of the week. In the Gulf Coast Classic against Alabama State, Coates served as a double threat with 13 carries for 70 yards and five receptions for 119 yards. Bell led the defense with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss.Coates and Bell won offensive and defensive MVP’s for their performance Saturday.”Offensively Darren Coates did an outstanding job for us,” Richardson said. “Not only is he running the football but he’s catching it and making big plays. He also plays on special teams and makes tackles, so he’s doing an outstanding job.””I think defensively our strong safety Bell also had an outstanding game,” he said. He’s an individual that’s really up around the football making things happen. We have to find a way to keep him sound because he makes a lot of positive plays up around the line of scrimmage.”
Keys to Victory• Avoid giving up big plays• Find a way to contain Banks• Create turnovers defensively• Avoid turnovers by protecting the ball offensively
“It’s going to be an exciting game,” Richardson said. “They’re riding high and we’re riding high, but they’re coming to our house so expect the fan base in Mumford to be a factor.”
Last HomecomingSaturday will be the last homecoming for seniors Jarmaul George, Efe Osawemwenze, RoShon Jacobs, Kendall Aguillard, Albert Turner, Chad Harris, Vincent Lands, Nick Benjamin, Darren Coates, Trent Thomas, DeMarcus Stewart, Gerard Landry and Mark Henderson.
“This is my last homecoming as well as all the other seniors on the team so be ready for a show,” said Southern free safety Jarmaul George. “Hopefully we have another shutout game.”
LagniappeCoach Richardson is 119-49 during his 15 year tenure as head coach at Southern. With a victory Saturday he will have secured win number 120. The only coach to win more than Richardson at Southern is the legendary A.W. Mumford, who won 176 games.