MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Following a week off from competition, the Alabama State University football team returns to the gridiron against Prairie View A&M Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cramton Bowl.

ASU (3-1, 0-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) looks to bounce back after a tough loss to Mississippi Valley State in its SWAC opener Sept. 26 in Chicago. Saturday's tilt against the Panthers marks the opening of a three-game home stand for the Hornets.

The Hornets will be without the services of third-year head coach Reggie Barlow, who will miss the game to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law in Virginia. Assistant head coach Roger Totten will serve in Barlow's absence. 

Prairie View brings a 2-1 record into Saturday's contest and looks to remain undefeated in SWAC play with a third straight league win. The Panthers edged defending league champion Grambling State, 35-32, last Saturday.

Saturday's game marks the 26th all-time meeting between the squads with Alabama State owning a 20-3-1 advantage in the series that also includes one ASU victory vacated by the NCAA.

Alabama State has been one of the SWAC's top defensive teams this season ranking among the league leaders in several categories, including first in scoring defense (16.5 ppg), first in rushing defense (78.0 ypg) and third in total defense (281.5 ypg). The Hornets also currently rank 12th in the nation for scoring defense.

The ASU offense also has enjoyed some balanced success through the first four games. The Hornets rank second in the SWAC for total offense averaging 382.2 yards per game, including a league leading 165.8 yards per game on the ground. Senior running back Rahmod Traylor leads the team and ranks third in the conference at 85.5 ypg.

Senior quarterback Chris Mitchell is averaging 212.2 yards per game through the air to rank second in the SWAC in passing. The Hornets' dynamic receiving duo of Nick Andrews (4th) and Darius Mathis (T-7th) are both ranked among the league's Top 10 pass catchers.

Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased at the Cramton Bowl ticket office for $20 beginning at 11:30 a.m. The game also will be carried live on the radio by WVAS (90.7 FM).