BOXTOROW National Game of the Week
4/4 Southern (6-2, 6-0) vs. 5/7 Prairie View A&M (6-3, 6-1)

Southern controls its own destiny in returning to the SWAC championship game after a two-year hiatus.  The Jaguars have three games remaining.

It begins on Saturday as they travel to Texas to take on a Prairie View A&M team which doesn’t control its own destiny for the West crown, but needs a win if it has any chance of winning the West and returning to the SWAC championship game for the first time since 2009 when the Panthers won it all.

SU hasn’t lost a game in two months since falling to Tulane 66-21 on September 10.  During that span, the Jags have averaged 44.5 points and are second in the SWAC in scoring, averaging 38.6 points per game.  As a matter of fact, Southern may be the most complete balanced offensive team in the conference.

It begins with the running game, led by the SWAC’s all-time leading rusher Lenard Tillery, who is leading the SWAC in rushing (135.6) and rushing touchdowns (11).  Quarterback Austin Howard is having a splendid junior year ranking second in the SWAC in passing yards per game (248.6), touchdown passes (18) and has thrown only six interceptions.

Then there is Mr. Do-It-All Willie Quinn who has 48 receptions for 715 yards, is averaging 14.9 yards per reception and has caught eight touchdown passes.  He leads the SWAC in multi purpose yards per game (167.9) and is one of the best threats in the country in the return game.

It would seem as though that Prairie View’s defense would be overwhelmed.  It gives up 417 yards of offense per game and is in the bottom half of the conference in rush defense.  But the Panthers put tremendous pressure on quarterbacks and have 33 sacks on the season.  DeVohn Reed leads the team in sacks with eight, but 17 different players have at least one sack.

Offensively, the Panthers are very balanced having run and passed the ball and equal amount of times (288).  Quarterback Trey Green has not played particularly well this year and has been injured.  Jalen Morton is a redshirt freshman who is completing just 46 percent of his passes for 750 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.

In the Panthers victory over Alcorn State Saturday he completed only 10-of-29 passes for 100 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions..  Head coach Willie Simmons is going to stick with Morton for now even though Green is available.  The offense is aided by a solid running game and the one-two-three punch of Sta’fon McCray, Calen Broach and Dawonya Tucker who have combined for 955 yards rushing, 5.5 yards per carry and eight touchdowns.

The Panthers will need to protect the football, particularly in the passing game.  Jaguars cornerback Danny Johnson is a ball hawk and leads the SWAC in interceptions (6).  The Panthers may be able to exploit the Jaguars run defense which ranks next to last in the league, giving up 217 yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Southern wins if… Its offense plays as it is capable of playing and the Jaguars can slow down the Panthers rushing attack.

PV wins is… It can put pressure on Howard, find a way to try and slow down Tillery and limit its turnovers.  Southern is +12 in turnover margin.

Note: PV head coach Willie Simmons will be a guest on FROM THE PRESS BOX TO PRESS ROW w/ Donal Ware this weekend on a radio station near you.