Alabama State head football coach
Reggie Barlow addressed the media on the SWAC Weekly Coaches Teleconference reviewing last week's big win in the Magic City Classic and looking ahead to this week's big game at Prairie View.
The Hornets (5-3, 5-2) defeated Alabama A&M 31-13 in the State Farm Magic City Classic. The victory was the second in the last three years by Alabama State over their arch rivals and moved the Hornets into a tie for first in the SWAC's Eastern Division race.
“It's always a blessing to play in the Classic,” Barlow said. “It's always a big game for both universities. Again, we thank our sponsors who continue to put the game on. The fans came and showed up in a pretty good atmosphere for football, although the weather was a bit chilly, it was still a good atmosphere. Whenever our two teams play, it's always a challenge. A lot of these guys played against each other (in high school) and know each other, so there's a lot of respect there on both sides. We've talked to our guys all year about being in the moment and regardless of what's going on around us, let's just focus on the rectangle, the field, and being able to do what we need to do.”
The defense had one of its most impressive performances of the season, limiting Alabama A&M to a season-low 29 rushing yards on 27 carries with 10 tackles for loss totaling minus 56 yards. Barlow credited Defensive Coordinator Cedric Thornton and his staff for the stellar outing from the defense.
“We've had some challenges in stopping the run and allowing a lot of points,” Barlow said. “They stepped up and did a good job of building our guys up to have the confidence to go out and play, and putting them in place to make plays on Saturday. We knew (RB Kadarius) Lacey is an outstanding running back and for us to opportunity to win, of course we'd have to stop him. (QB Deaunte) Mason had been playing really well. Our defensive guys did a good job.”
The Hornets will play the final two SWAC games on the road against Western Division opponents. Prairie View (3-5 overall, 3-3) has won three games in a row to play itself into contention in the West. Offensively, the Panthers have been on a roll, averaging 44 points in those three victories, including last week's 49-29 win over Southern. The Hornets and PV will play at 1 p.m. Saturday and the game will be broadcast live on WVAS 90.7 FM and video streamed live on the Prairie View website for $5.95.
“They are scoring a lot of points,” Barlow said. “(PV Offensive Coordinator Coach Mark) Orlando has always done a good job since he was at Southern, so we have our work cut out for us. It's always a challenge. This league is just so competitive and (has) so much parity. Every week it's just a matter of which team, which group of guys are going to show up. It will be another challenge. (PV Head Coach Heish) Northern is a solid coach, who was great as an assistant and now he's doing well (as a head coach). His team has taken on his personality in the last couple of games.”
Jenkins, Crowell, Wenzig earn SWAC Honors: QB
Greg Jenkins, RB
Isaiah Crowell, and K/P
Bobby Wenzig earned SWAC Weekly Player of the Week Honors.
Jenkins (SR, QB, 6-1/210, Dade City, Fla.) totaled 276 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Bulldogs. Jenkins earned Offensive POW honors for the first time this season after an efficient 10-of-15 passing day for 264 yards with one touchdown and also had one rushing touchdown. Jenkins completed five passes of at least 20 yards, including three of 50+ yards in the victory in earning Magic City Classic Offensive Player of the Game Honors.
Crowell (SO, RB, 5-11/190, Columbus, Ga.) earned SWAC Newcomer honors for the second time this season. He totaled 92 yards and tied a career high with two touchdowns. He rushed 17 times for 60 and a pair of touchdowns (9,3) and caught two passes for 32 yards, including a 27-yard reception.
Wenzig (JR, K/P,6-2/185, San Diego, Ca.) earned the weekly conference award for the fifth time this season. He averaged 36.5 yards on six punts with one downed inside the 20. He also made season long 46-yard field goal in the first quarter and converted on all four PATs.
NOTABLES vs. ALABAMA A&M
• Alabama State scored at least 30 points for the fourth consecutive game, the longest streak by the Hornets since scoring 30 + points in five straight games (all victories) in the 2005 season. The Hornets are now 35-5 since 2003 when scoring at least 30 points.
• QB
Greg Jenkins now ranks in the top 10 in ASU history in both total offense and passing yards. With 3,505 total yards, he ranks eighth ahead of Rico White (3,470 yards from 1990-93) and Chris Mitchell (3,394 from 2007-09). Now with 2,775 passing yards, Jenkins ranks 10th in school history ahead of Ben Harris (2,745 yards from 1975-78) and Alcede Surtain (2,588 yards from 1992-95).
• Alabama State ran the ball 50 times for the third time in the past four games.
• RB
Isaiah Crowell now has a career-high 12 rushing touchdowns this season, the first Hornet with double-digit rushing touchdowns since Keldrick Willams' 17 rushing TDs in 2004.
• WR
T.C. McWilliams is now ninth in ASU history in receiving yards with 1,602. Against Alabama A&M, McWilliams passed William Evans (1,582 yards from 1962-65) and O.L. Actwood (1,560 yards from 1972-75).
