The Alabama State football team had another spirited practice session Wednesday afternoon continuing to ready for Saturday's conference game at Southern.
The Hornets (6-3 overall, 6-2 SWAC) will face the Jaguars (3-6, 2-5) Saturday at 6 p.m. in Baton Rouge, La. at Southern's
A.W. Mumford Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on WVAS 90.7 FM.
Alabama State worked in blustery conditions at Hornet Stadium, with a steady wind and falling temperatures during the late afternoon.
“It was another good, spirited practice,” head coach
Reggie Barlow said. “The guys are staying focused and we're getting our work in. We realize the opportunity we have this week, and it was a good day of work.”
The competitive energy of practice has increased in recent days. The offensive and defensive units have challenged each other more in practice, and as the friendly chatter has picked up, so has the playmaking on both sides.
“I love it,” Barlow said. “You're talking about it being Week 11 and it's been a long season, and the guys going at it since August 2. The scout team defense is encouraging and excited for an opportunity to go against the offense. That competitiveness is going to help us. It makes practice fun and fast for the players, and we appreciate that.”
That intensity will be important against a Southern defense that is coming off one of its best efforts of the season in its 24-23 overtime loss at Alabama A&M. The Jaguars limited the Bulldogs to just 214 yards total offense, and forced a pair of turnovers.
“Their scheme is different,” Barlow said. “They run a 3-3 stack (three defensive linemen, three linebackers), which is different from most teams in the conference which run an even (4-3) front (four D-linemen, three linebackers). They will blitz and play cover-3 in the secondary. They have good players, and guys who are running to the ball and playing with a lot of effort. We have to make sure we are protecting the quarterback, and we have to match their effort.”
Alabama State will practice Thursday at 11 a.m.
