ASU GAME NOTES | PVA&M GAME NOTES
MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Alabama State Hornets (2-1) welcome the Prairie View A&M University Panthers (1-2) in the Hornets' first SWAC matchup of the season on Sat., Sept. 24 \for Community and Teacher Appreciation Day. .Kickoff is set for 5:00 PM (CT) ASU Stadium and will be televised on Bounce TV (WSFA 12.2).
The Hornets return to Montgomery after a road trip to Pasadena, Calif , against the UCLA Bruins and a bye week. It has been two weeks since the Hornets have last seen action, but head coach Eddie Robinson Jr. saw that as a positive for the team to fine-tune and make adjustments entering SWAC play.
One adjustment the Hornets would like to make is their ball security. Alabama State has recorded 13 turnovers in their first three games. Turnovers have been concerning, especially on the ground, as they have had nine fumbles, including five in a win against Miles College. The Hornets would like to give the ball to their play makers in the backfield, redshirt-sophomore
Jacory Merritt and grad-student
Santo Dunn, but ball security must be a priority.
Prairie View has been phenomenal in the run game to start the season, using that as their bread and butter. Through three games, the Panthers have scored eight touchdowns, with only one coming through the air. The Panthers have also yet to pass for over 100 yards in tin game, sitting at 68. They currently sit second in the SWAC in rushing with 660 yards and third in rushing touchdowns with seven.
In the Panthers' last win against inter-division and rival Texas Southern, they marched downfield the whole game, recording 404 rushing yards and just nine passing. They averaged 6.4 yards per rush and had three rushers over 100 yards. Running back Ahmad Antoine ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, halfback Jaden Stewart ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries, and quarterback Trazon Connley ran for 130 yards with two touchdowns on nine attempts. Antoine and Connley sit in the top 10 in SWAC rushing with 238 and 158 yards, respectively.
Alabama State and first-year defensive coordinator Ryan Lewis will have to make controlling the line of scrimmage and the trenches a priority if they want to limit the success of the Panthers on Saturday. The defense has been a good area for the Hornets that is continuing to roll over from last year. So far this season Alabama State is second in SWAC in total defense, with the Panthers not far behind at fourth. The Hornets also sit at fifth in rush defense, only allowing 504 total rushing yards for the season. On average, they hold teams to 4.1 yards per play and 135.3 yards per game in that department. Defensive lineman
Stefon Young-Rolle is tied for second in the conference in sacks with three, while defensive backs
Adrian Maddox (ASU) and Gerald Smith (PVAMU) are tied for first in interceptions with two.
Alabama State and Prairie View look to maintain their favorable position in the SWAC East and West divisions. In the east, ASU sits behind Jackson State. A win would keep the Hornets in an advantageous spot ahead of a winless trio of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, and Alabama A&M Bulldogs. In the west, the Panthers sit atop the division despite a two-game losing streak. A win would create separation between them and the second-place Texas Southern Tigers.
The Hornets lead the all-time series 27-9-1 but have drpped the last seven meetings in the series.
