http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0310/13/tjsu02.html
October 13, 2003
This week for Jackson State
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
SOUTHERN
RECORD 6-0
Southern 29, M. Valley 0
Southern 62, P. View 7
Southern 35, N.C. A&T 16
Southern 35, Al. St. 10
Southern 53, UAPB 7
Southern 55, Al. A&M 25
O.18 at Jackson St.
N. 1 Allen
N. 8 Lincoln
N. 15 at Texas Southern
N. 29 Grambling (N.O.)
RECAP: JSU fell behind 20-0 to Alabama State and lost 27-20 after a second-half rally fell short. The loss dropped to the Tigers to 2-5, their worst start since 1969.
SATURDAY: Southern, 6 p.m.
SITE: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson
TV: MBC (tape delay, 4 p.m. Sunday).
Scouting the Jaguars
OFFENSE: Southern has been downright unstoppable on offense. The Jaguars are averaging a SWAC-best 44.8 points per game and are second in the league in total offense at 443.5 yards per game ? 189.2 rushing, 254.3 passing. That's got to be a scary thought for a JSU defense that has given up a combined 876 yards and 55 points the past two weeks. The Jags' offensive orchestrator is quarterback Quincy Richard, who has thrown for 1,501 yards and 17 TDs while completing 66.9 percent of his passes. Richard has plenty of weapons at his disposal and uses them all in what is a multiple, open-the-playbook style attack. Versatile back Kenneth Peoples (495 yards, 5 TDs) is the main man on the ground. The Jaguars have six players with 10 or more receptions, led by speedsters Alfred Ard and Chris Davis, who have combined for 48 catches, 800 yards and 9 touchdowns.
DEFENSE: The fast starts on offense ? Southern has out-scored opponents 157-18 in the first half ? have made life easier on the Jags' defense, which ranks first in the SWAC in scoring defense (10.8 ppg.) and total defense (265.8 ypg.). Southern held Alabama A&M to just 153 total yards. Newcomers ? LB Tarus Morgan, CB Erin Damond, DE Kevin Mack and FS Jarmaul George ? have made a huge impact. CB Lenny Williams, the SWAC preseason defensive player of the year, and SS Eddie Woods are senior leaders.
INTANGIBLES: Jackson State has beaten Southern three straight years, a fact longtime Southern coach Pete Richardson is sure to remind his troops of early and often this week. The Tigers had hoped returning home Saturday would solve their problems. It didn't. It was a case of same song, different verse as JSU got off to another slow start, made mistakes at crucial times and came up short against Alabama State. Already 2-5, JSU faces SWAC heavyweights Southern and Grambling in Jackson the next two weeks.The biggest question for Saturday: Will Jaguar Nation outnumber JSU fans?
October 13, 2003
This week for Jackson State
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
SOUTHERN
RECORD 6-0
Southern 29, M. Valley 0
Southern 62, P. View 7
Southern 35, N.C. A&T 16
Southern 35, Al. St. 10
Southern 53, UAPB 7
Southern 55, Al. A&M 25
O.18 at Jackson St.
N. 1 Allen
N. 8 Lincoln
N. 15 at Texas Southern
N. 29 Grambling (N.O.)
RECAP: JSU fell behind 20-0 to Alabama State and lost 27-20 after a second-half rally fell short. The loss dropped to the Tigers to 2-5, their worst start since 1969.
SATURDAY: Southern, 6 p.m.
SITE: Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Jackson
TV: MBC (tape delay, 4 p.m. Sunday).
Scouting the Jaguars
OFFENSE: Southern has been downright unstoppable on offense. The Jaguars are averaging a SWAC-best 44.8 points per game and are second in the league in total offense at 443.5 yards per game ? 189.2 rushing, 254.3 passing. That's got to be a scary thought for a JSU defense that has given up a combined 876 yards and 55 points the past two weeks. The Jags' offensive orchestrator is quarterback Quincy Richard, who has thrown for 1,501 yards and 17 TDs while completing 66.9 percent of his passes. Richard has plenty of weapons at his disposal and uses them all in what is a multiple, open-the-playbook style attack. Versatile back Kenneth Peoples (495 yards, 5 TDs) is the main man on the ground. The Jaguars have six players with 10 or more receptions, led by speedsters Alfred Ard and Chris Davis, who have combined for 48 catches, 800 yards and 9 touchdowns.
DEFENSE: The fast starts on offense ? Southern has out-scored opponents 157-18 in the first half ? have made life easier on the Jags' defense, which ranks first in the SWAC in scoring defense (10.8 ppg.) and total defense (265.8 ypg.). Southern held Alabama A&M to just 153 total yards. Newcomers ? LB Tarus Morgan, CB Erin Damond, DE Kevin Mack and FS Jarmaul George ? have made a huge impact. CB Lenny Williams, the SWAC preseason defensive player of the year, and SS Eddie Woods are senior leaders.
INTANGIBLES: Jackson State has beaten Southern three straight years, a fact longtime Southern coach Pete Richardson is sure to remind his troops of early and often this week. The Tigers had hoped returning home Saturday would solve their problems. It didn't. It was a case of same song, different verse as JSU got off to another slow start, made mistakes at crucial times and came up short against Alabama State. Already 2-5, JSU faces SWAC heavyweights Southern and Grambling in Jackson the next two weeks.The biggest question for Saturday: Will Jaguar Nation outnumber JSU fans?
