The Southern University Jaguars football team (5-0, 3-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) will defend their undefeated record against the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M University (4-2, 2-1 SWAC) at Saturday’s sold-out Homecoming game. This week’s game will be shown live on MBC, Cox Cable channel 229.
The Bulldogs’ defense frustrated the injury-riddled Jags and eliminated them from conference title contentions by defeating them 27-11 last season in Indianapolis at the 2002 Coca-Cola Circle City Classic.
The most notable Jag missing in action was senior quarterback Quincy Richard who was nursing an ankle injury.
“Last year, everything was so difficult for us. We struggled to score and had too many mental mistakes,” said Jags football head coach Pete Richardson. “Besides the wide receivers, this is the same team. The major difference is that we are finally playing together.”
The Jags are off to their best start since the1999 season and are ranked 18th in the ESPN/USA TODAY I-AA college football poll. Richard’s play on the field has stood out nationally, besides his second SWAC Offensive Player of the Week honor.
The Opelousas native was named the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Player of the Week for his performance against UAPB. In the game, he completed 14-16 passes for 255 yards and four touchdowns.
Both teams are both coming off blowout victories. Southern dismantled Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-7 last week, while Alabama A&M shutout Texas Southern 63-0.
After allowing UAPB 234 rushing yards last week, Southern will need to focus on their run defense and senior tailback Jeremiah Bonds. Bonds leads the conference with 630 yards.
“We feel that tackling will be very important because Bonds is a good tailback,” Richardson said. “We can not allow him to break tackles. We must control the tempo of the game.”
Southern’s “Dog-Day” defense is a huge reason why the Jags are still undefeated.
Lenny Williams has earned his second SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honor and is the catalyst in the Jaguar’s secondary. William was also named Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network, the division’s most widely recognized information service.
“Alabama A&M likes to pound you. We need to make tackles as a unit and avoid one-on-one situations. We are a gang-tackling team,” said senior linebacker Kendrick Paul. “Linebackers need to help the defensive back and vice-versa.”
According to Coach Richardson, winning every game is important, but “champions are determined in October and winning this game will set the right tone for the rest of the season.”
NOTE: The Jaguar Nation will need to head to A.W. Mumford Stadium early. The game has been moved up to 6:05 p.m. to accommodate television scheduling.
