Alabama State head football coach
Reggie Barlow addressed the media on the SWAC Weekly Coaches Teleconference reviewing last week's win at Prairie View and this week's final conference game at Southern.
The Hornets (6-3, 6-2) rallied from an early 14-point deficit to defeat the Panthers 35-21 in a weather-delayed contest to remain tied for first place in the SWAC's Eastern Division.
“It was a challenge,” Barlow said of the game. “We got there and found ourselves down 14-0. We talk about all of the external things that keep you from being focused, and we ask our guys to remove the mental clutter of the things that didn't have an impact on the game. For whatever reason, they weren't as dialed in as we like for them to be. Of course, Prairie View had a lot to do with that. We had some guys that found themselves in the second quarter and settled down a bit and we were able to score.”
With 20 straight points scored prior to halftime, Alabama State led 20-14 at the break. During halftime, lightning and storms moved into the area, causing a delay of nearly two hours prior to the game resuming.
“We felt good about the momentum we had going into halftime,” Barlow said. “But with the lightning delay we had for almost two hours, it kind of went back to a new game after that. The guys focused and did some good things (in the second half) and were able to get the victory.”
Backup quarterback
Daniel Duhart came in late in the first quarter in place on an injured
Greg Jenkins and rallied the Hornets to their sixth consecutive road win.
“
Daniel Duhart is a redshirt freshman that we have a lot of confidence in,” Barlow said. “He's a pin-point passer. He's really a cerebral, smart guy; understands the game. We gave him an opportunity to play. He took ownership of the offense and did some really good things for us. We're proud of him and the way he played and hopefully he'll continue to develop…Greg is a trooper. He's a competitor. He could have gone back in and played that game, but we just wanted to protect him. He'll be fine.”
This week the Hornets will travel to Southern to end SWAC play. The Jaguars (3-6, 2-5) are coming off a one-point overtime loss at Alabama A&M. Southern made a coaching change in mid-September removing Stump Mitchell as head coach and naming defensive coordinator Dawson Odums interim head coach.
“Southern has always had great tradition, great fan support and a lot of good players there,” Barlow said. “It's the same way this year…This is a team that is playing with confidence. Kudos to their coaching staff, having to overcome adversity with the (coaching) change and still keeping their guys dialed in. It will be a challenge to go down there. It's our last game in the conference, and we have to go and be ready to play.”
For the third straight year, the Hornets will end league play against Southern with a chance to win the East title. Alabama State clinches the division title with a win over Southern PLUS a Jackson State loss in one of its final two games vs. Alabama A&M or at Alcorn State.
The Hornets will practice Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 11 a.m.
Duhart, Wenzig earn SWAC Honors: QB
Daniel Duhart and K/P
Bobby Wenzig earned SWAC Newcomer and Specialists of the Week Honors, respectively.
Duhart (FR, QB, 6-0/185, Macon, Ga.) completed 22 of 31 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns in coming off the bench to rally the Hornets from that early deficit. In his most extensive action of the season, Duhart led the Hornets to scoring drive on six of his first 10 possessions, including throwing second-quarter touchdown passes of 13 yards to
T.C. McWilliams and 12 yards to
Justin Robinson.
Wenzig (JR, K/P,6-2/185, San Diego, Ca.) earned the weekly conference award for the second-straight week and sixth time this season. He averaged 44.6 yards on eight punts with a long of 53, two punts of 50+ yards and a career-high tying four downed inside the 20. He was also 3-for-3 on PATs and made both field goal attempts (42, 24).
Wenzig leads the SWAC and ranks second in the nation in punting, averaging 45.2 yards per attempt.
NOTABLES vs. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M:
• Alabama State scored at least the 30 points for the fifth 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 36-5 since 2003 when scoring at least 30 points.
• Alabama State has won six straight true road games (not including neutral site games), tied for the third-longest streak in the nation.
• It was the third consecutive win in the series by the Hornets, including two at Blackshear Stadium.
• Head Coach
Reggie Barlow has led the Hornets to three consecutive winning seasons, the longest streak at ASU since the 2003-05 seasons under head coach Charlie Coe.
• RB
Malcolm Cyrus posted a career high in rushing yards (81) for the second straight game.
• WR
T.C. McWilliams is now tied for fifth in ASU history in receptions with 124, tied with Darryl Pearson (1984-87). McWilliams now has 16 touchdowns, tied for seventh in school history with Pearson.
• FS
Kejuan Riley extended school records in interceptions (20) and INT return yards (336). He is the active FCS leader in picks and second in return yards.
• DTs
DreQuay Everett (seven tackles) and
Justin Mitchell (five tackles) recorded career highs against Prairie View.
