JACKSON, Miss. – The defending Eastern Division Champion Alabama State Hornets concluded its on-field preparation Friday afternoon prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. showdown with Jackson State.

Hornets Football Gameday Central will have fans covered with links to live stats, live radio from the ASU Sports Network, and live video of the game free of charge.

After arriving here in Mississippi earlier in the day, the Hornets held their usual Friday walk-through practice and are set to face a Tigers' team picked to win this year's division title.

“I think we are ready to play,” head coach Reggie Barlow said. “They seemed to be really relaxed and just enjoying the process. They know they've put the work in; now it's just a matter of getting the last couple of hours of rest in and focusing their attention on Jackson State. This group has been one that has worked hard all year and now the hay is in the barn. We get an opportunity to see tomorrow if we are truly ready.”

It is sure to be a charged atmosphere at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, as both teams recall the intensity of last year's contest in Montgomery, won by Alabama State 32-30. The Hornets expect a very hostile environment Saturday, and among the keys to the game will be keeping their poise.

“We know the magnitude of the game,” Barlow said. “We know what happened last year. We'll talk to them about composure. We're not going to back down. We're going to be competitive, but we're not going to get into shoving matches or anything like that. We're going to reserve our energy for our play and make sure we get that from our guys.”