SU seeks to sting Hornets’ hopes

 
From the moment that the 24-23 loss to Alabama A&M last weekend came to an end, the Southern Jaguars (3-6, 2-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) started thinking about getting another crack at spoiling their next opponents’ title hopes.
Historically, SU has been the conqueror of a league title, but for a change, the Alabama State Hornets (6-3, 6-2 SWAC) will have more to lose.
The Hornets are the team with the win streak, the team that recruited the 2011 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year running back Isaiah Crowell, and the team who is now one victory from capturing a Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title.
“This is a team (Southern) that’s playing with confidence,” ASU head coach Reggie Barlow said. “I tell our guys and the coaches, if we had taken care of our business then we wouldn’t have to be in this situation. Our game is a late game, so maybe around that time we may have an idea of what has happened in other games.”
There are three weeks left in the Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season. The Eastern title race could be decided this weekend. A&M can still win the title by winning out and having the Hornets lose in Mumford Saturday. Jackson State can’t because of probation, but can upset A&M in Jackson, Miss. ASU is still alive, though the Hornets need to win out and get some help elsewhere.
For SU, it’s been a while since they tasted victory. SU’s wild loss against A&M extended their losing streak to three games, which began against Arkansas Pine Bluff, who clinched the West title with a 49-3 victory over Texas Southern.
SU interim head coach Dawson Odums said that it would be exciting to see his team walk off the field Saturday victorious.
“You’ll love to go into your bye week with a win,” Odums said. “It makes the bye week a little bit longer. It’s going to be exciting for the young men getting ready for their finale.”
Odums emphasized the importance of slowing down Barlow’s explosive offense, which is first in scoring (32.9).
“Collectively we have to do a great job on defense to stop Alabama State,” Odums said.
The high scoring Hornets’ offense has outscored opponents 199-85 in the last five games, which include a 37-34 home loss against Jackson State.
“It will be hard not to wonder what’s going on,” Barlow said, whose team won two in a row, defeating Prairie View 35-21 last weekend. “Those are the things we talk about. It’s mental clutter. We won’t mention anything about it so our guys can focus on Southern.”
The Hornets finished 8-3 last season with key league losses to A&M and Southern. SU won 26-23 and the Hornets shared east title as co-champions at 7-2, along with Jackson State and A&M.
Odums added that the Hornets probably would know of their fate before kickoff and that his guys will be fired up.
“It’s our last home game here,” said Odums. “We expect to get a great effort from them and we also expect to give a great effort.”