Heading into their second non-conference game this weekend against Central State, the Southern Jaguars are recovering from a disappointing 42-19 loss to UL-Lafayette last weekend.
However, that doesn’t mean SU has lost any confidence.
“More than anything else our team played with a lot of confidence in that football game,” said head coach Pete Richardson during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. “They played for a full 60 minutes and hopefully they can play dividends down the road for us.”
However, the injuries sustained during last weekend’s game against ULL were certainly more discomforting than the actual score.
Richardson plans to head into Saturday’s game without key players, wide receiver Curry Allen could miss the entire year with a shoulder injury and converted strong safety Gary Chatman is also questionable for Saturday’s game.
One player SU cannot allow to get injured, quarterback Bryan Lee, who threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, both to All-American wide receiver Juamorris Stewart.
“Our quarterback Lee had an outstanding game, knowing where to go with the football and directing the offense, Coach Orlando done a great job getting him ready for the game,” said Richardson.
After squaring off against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, SU patiently awaits something of a breather. SU (0-1) plays host to Division II Central State (0-2), a historically black college that has yet to score a touchdown this season.
Playing SU raises the eye-brows of E.J. Junior, head coach of Central State Marauders, who played 13 seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis Cardinals teaming with SU Athletic Director Greg LaFleur.
“That’s the one thing about it with a new outlook, there are new challenges,” head coach E.J. Junior said. “It’s a great challenge to hit the road and play against one of the better-known HBCUs. I’ve been keeping up with them when I was a kid and their battles with Tennessee State, Grambling and FAMU. We’re trying to expose them to a bigger level, especially those Division I-AA programs. Hopefully we can move this program forward to their level in the future and challenge bigger programs.”
Statistically, this is the type of game where everyone on the SU roster will see playing time and manage to put up numbers.
Scoreless the first two games of the season, what obstacles does your team have to have a chance at winning?
“We’ve got to be fundamentally sound,” said Junior. “I was at Southwest Baptist, and we played Southeast Missouri and beat them twice. Talent is talent, that’s why Appalachian State beat Michigan a couple of years ago. You can’t make penalties like we had last week. You can’t have stupid mistakes like we had last week. We’re going to go back to fundamental football, recognize their formations and tendencies and run what we do best.”
Both teams previously met in the 1949 and 1950 football seasons. SU won both meetings and look to regain momentum as they seek to extend their winning streak at three games.
The Jaguars might remember the record crowd of 41,357 at Cajun Field and how lively it seemed for the first two quarters. Now it’s time to bring that same anticipation and excitement back to A.W. Mumford Stadium.
The game kicks off Saturday at 6 p.m.
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Jaguars to host winless Central State
September 10, 2009
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