SHREVEPORT, LA. – With the Alabama State football team coming off its' most complete defensive effort of the season in a 14-7 victory against conference foe Jackson State last week, the Hornets will have a tall order on Saturday when it travels to Shreveport, La. to take on conference unbeaten Grambling State in the Red River State Fair Classic at Independence Stadium. 

Alabama State (3-6 overall, 3-5 SWAC) held the Jackson State offense to just 294 total yards of offense. 

The Hornets' challenge figures to be much more difficult this turn around with Grambling State's top-ranked SWAC offense on tap.

The Tigers (6-1 overall, 6-0 SWAC) rank first in the SWAC in most categories including points per game (45.7), scoring defense (15.1 points per game allowed), total offense (527.4 yards per game) and total defense (allowing just 297.0 yards per game). 

The game features the top two running attacks in the conference with the Hornets leading the way by rushing for an average of 214.3 rushing yards contest. 

Grambling is next behind with 203.1 rushing yards per game. 

"Grambling is a powerhouse right now in our conference," said ASU head football coach Brian Jenkins. 

"Their coach Broderick Fobbs is a first-class coach  He has a strong coaching bloodline.  He's a great leader and he has his troops playing at an all-time high, but we have the opportunity to come in and play this good football team.  It's something that I'm honored to do.  We'll give it our best shot at coming away with a victory." 

ASU will have to find a way to contain Tigers' quarterback Devante Kincade, who leads the SWAC in passing yard per game (292.6) and passing touchdowns (23). 

"They're undefeated [in the SWAC] and once you see the game film, it's easy to see why, " Jenkins said. 

"They have playmakers all over the field.  When you watch that first game of the season at Arizona, they had them on the ropes.  Arizona staggered to a position of a standing eight count, but they just didn't get it done.  But it just showed the caliber of team that they are."

ASU is coming off a week where freshman linebacker Darron Johnson earned the SWAC Newcomer of the Week award.

Johnson was second on the team with eight tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss. 

"Darron Johnson is a tremendous young player," Jenkins added.

"To see him perform this early in his career really excites me as a coach knowing that Kourtney [Berry] is a senior and getting ready to step away from the game.  From first day that we recruited him, we knew that he had the capability of being a pretty good player.  The way that he approaches the game is tremendous.  He approaches the game like a vet.  And, the one thing that he's done is that he's tied into Kourtney Berry.  Every day, he spends at least 10-15 minutes after practice with Kourtney going over things.  He always speaks volumes about Kourtney for taking the time to take an interest in him." 

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