Jags look to break tying record against Braves

The Southern University Jaguars football team will host the Alcorn State Braves Saturday at 3 p.m. in A.W. Mumford Stadium. This will be Southern’s last home game of the 2005 season and the Jaguars will also honor the 19 seniors on the team.
In the last meeting with Alcorn State, Southern won 23-20 in Lorman, Miss., tying their all-time series 26-26-3. Both teams are coming off big wins for their programs. Last week, Alcorn State defeated Texas Southern for their first road win of the season and Southern handed Jackson State an emotional 20-14 loss for their second win this year.
“I think it’s a rivalry game that’s started to develop in the last two or three years. They have been very tough games for us,” said head coach Pete Richardson. “It’s going to be a very competitive game, this is game is not going to be any different from the rest of them – we just have to ready to play.”
Alcorn State (3-3, 2-2 SWAC) has the top rushing team in the conference averaging 205.0 yards per game, while Southern (2-3, 2-3 SWAC) is now ranked fourth in rushing defense allowing 140.8 yards. Alcorn State’s Charlie Spiller, who scored his first touchdown of the season last week, is the SWAC’s leader in all-purpose yards averaging 118.8 yards per game including 21.0 yards per kickoff return average. Alcorn State’s freshman quarterback Tony Hobson has thrown for a career-high 245 yards.
“Going into that game (against Jackson State), we had to get our running game started. Our quarterback had taken a number of hits and the only way to alleviate that problem was to get your running game started,” Richardson said. “Overall, we starting to make progress, still we have a long way to go as a football team.”
The Jaguars know the Braves are leading in rushing and leading that group is running back Jeremy McCoy. McCoy had a career high of 150 yards last week, but his counterpart, Jaguars senior rusher Steele Adams also had a career high of 155 yards last week.
“It was an example to show people how I love this football game. To rush for 155 yards isn’t enough for me. I really want to rush for about 200 to show people that I can really play the game of football,” said Adams. “This is my last home game, so I will play the best of my ability.”
Despite the injuries, the defensive line plans to hold their own weight. Richardson stated the defensive line has been the most consistent group this year. This rivalry game is important to the Jaguars for a win, because last season their only lost was to the Braves.
“We have to take care of ourselves in the season. Other people have to step up and play and fight through injuries and show your toughness on the field,” said senior defensive back Rene Gettridge. “I went to the game last year as payback (Southern won), but I want to still go out and win. This year is my last home game as a senior.”