MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama State University football hits hit the road on Saturday to face the Texas Southern University Tigers (1-3, 1-1 SWAC) at 6:00 PM CT at PNC Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Hornets seek to get back in the win column after ending September with back-to-back losses.
Alabama State (2-2, 0-1 SWAC) is coming off a close loss to the Prairie View A&M University Panthers 24-14 last Saturday. The game was close for most of the contest, but the Hornets could not recover from their self-inflicted wounds.
Head coach Eddie Robinson noted this post-game, saying, "We got to be smart with the offense, take care of the football. Manage turnovers and mistakes. Prep, it's nothing new it's all about us."
The Hornets still struggle with ball security as they surrendered four turnovers against the Panthers. The Hornets also failed to stay on the field and convert in scoring opportunities as they went 0-for-7 on third-down conversions and 2-6 in the red zone, both areas that are imperative
to fix heading to Houston.
The Tigers stand tough in red zone defense as opponents only have a 66.8 percent conversion rate. Opponents have also thrown two interceptions to the Tigers in the red zone.
An area that would not surprise me is if the Hornets try to spotlight running back
Jacory Merritt-Croskey and wideout
La'Vontae Shenault. Merritt rushed for 152 yards on 17 carries against the Panthers and has already eclipsed 230 yards for the season. Shenault is a talented and crafty receiver, who averages 45.5 yards per game with 182 total yards.
An area coach Robinson and his staff can hang their hat on is the defense. The Hornet defense is ranked second in passing defense, third in total defense, and fourth in scoring defense. That was evident against the Panthers, limiting them to 126 rushing yards. It was the defense that kept the Hornets in the game recording an interception, fumble, and blocked field goal in crunch time to keep hope inside New ASU Stadium. Linebacker
Colton Adams also recorded a season-high 13 tackles.
The defense will have to show up if they want to stop the dynamic duo of Ladarius Owen and Jacorey Howard in the backfield. Last week against the University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners, Owen and Howard had a day as they ran for 80+ yards, Owens with 81 and Howard with 89.
The Hornets will also have to make quarterback Andrew Body uncomfortable in the pocket as he has already eclipsed 700 passing yards. Body has 708 yards and a 59 percentage, making him third in the SWAC in passing and total offense. He is aided by his partner in crime, wideout Derek Morton, who has 291 yards on 17 catches. His play has earned him the third rank in total receiving in the SWAC.
