From the Digest Sports Desk

In the wake of Southern’s final home game of the season, the only question left unanswered is will this October be the same as last?
Last season, Southern was (3-2, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) coming into October, but concluded the month (3-5, 2-4). Like this season, last year’s team was riddled with injuries as well. Plus, the Jaguars started out (2-0) before losing to Prairie View A&M, 23-26 and having then starting quarterback J.C. Lewis knocked out of the following game against North Carolina Central with a concussion. Lewis threw five interceptions in that game as the Jaguars lost 20-27, marking its first two game losing streak of the season.
And although Southern bounced back to defeat Alabama State, 38-20 at A.W. Mumford Stadium snapping its two game losing skid, the Jaguars still went 0-3 in October losing 38-20 to Alabama A&M, 31-28 to Jackson State and 26-10 to Alcorn State. All three loses came on the road as Southern concluded the season 5-6.
“Injuries really hurt us last season,” said Southern coach Pete Richardson. “It seemed like every game we were losing somebody last year.”
This season Southern started out (5-0, 3-0) before Bryant Lee injured his ankle against Alabama A&M on homecoming, as the Jaguars lost 33-28. And Saturday’s 26-32 loss to Jackson State came the same way, as Lee (ankle), Gerard Landry (ankle), Allan Baugh (knee) and Cory Ray (shoulder) all left the game with injuries.
“Injuries are starting to surface on our football team,” Richardson said. “Key loses from last week start with our quarterback situation. Up until that point Lee was probably having as fine a season as any quarterback in our conference as far as consistency and managing our football team.”
“We’re in a situation where some young individuals are going to have to step up and play well for us,” Richardson said. “Overall the attitude of our football team is good. We’re 5-2 and have to focus on winning one game at a time from here.”
Saturday’s game against Alcorn State will determine whether Southern will allow the same problem’s that plagued last year’s team to bring them down, or if they will show the heart and will to win they displayed in their first five games.
An X-factor for Southern could be the bye week between its games against Alcorn State and Texas Southern. The Jaguars have practiced without a significant day off since July 31st and desperately need it with its injury list piling up as fast as it is.
Also, if Southern can get by Alcorn State while resting Lee and Landry, the off week will give them two weeks of rest before the Jaguars travel to Houston to play Texas Southern on November 3, in Reliant Stadium. If this happens, Lee and Landry should be at full strength by then with only Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Grambling State left to play.
So far this month Southern is 0-2 at home in October but has one final chance to avoid the same three game losing skid it went on at the same time last season. Also, Southern has to win Saturday in order to keep pace with Western division front-runner Grambling State (5-1, 5-0). If Southern can win the remainder of its games, including the Bayou Classic, and Grambling loses two SWAC games then the Jaguars will win the Western division and play in the SWAC Championship game for the first time since 2004.
That quest begins Saturday against Alcorn State. It’s “Senior Day” for Southern and if I’m correct seniors like Jarmaul George, Vince Lands and Gerard Landry don’t want their final game in Mumford Stadium to be a loss.