BOXTOROW National Game of the Week
Southern (4-2, 4-0) vs. Alcorn State (3-3, 3-2)

There are too many games and key matchups left to be played in the season to say that the Jaguars and the Braves will play for the SWAC championship in December.

But it is possible.

Southern is on a roll, winners of four-straight including a 49-17 drubbing of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on homecoming last week.  Alcorn State is playing better, has won its last two games and is coming off a much needed bye week.

In addition to Alcorn State, Southern still have to play at Prairie View A&M on November 12 and against Grambling in the Bayou Classic on November 26.  Next week’s game against Texas Southern isn’t exactly a gimmie.

Meanwhile, Alcorn State is at PV and its final game is a rivalry game against a Jackson State team who is coming on strong.

After losing their first two games to FBS opponents but scoring 21 points in each game, the Jaguars have become offensive juggernauts.  The Jaguars have averaged 50 points per game in their last four and lead the league and are seventh in FCS in scoring offense (40.3).  Running back Lenard Tillery has been spectacular averaging 127.5 yards per game and rushing for seven touchdowns.  Junior quarterback Austin Howard is completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,568 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions.

But it has been the play of senior wide receiver/return specialist Willie Quinn who has made the biggest impact.  Quinn is third in the conference in receptions (41) second in receiving yards per game (105.8) and has caught eight touchdown passes.  Furthermore, he leads FCS in all-purpose yards per game (198.7) and has returned a punt for a touchdown.

Alcorn State will be tasked with trying to slow down the vaunted Jaguar offense.  In previous years, the Braves routinely led the SWAC in total defense.  Not this year, as they are in the middle or in the bottom half of most defensive statistical categories.  Where the Braves do excel is putting pressure on the quarterback.  In six games, they have 19 sacks which is second in the SWAC.  Sack master Darien Anderson has nine which leads FCS and has also racked up 14 tackles for loss.

While Alcorn State’s offense is averaging a respectable 377 yards per game, like the defense, it’s not as good as it’s been in past years.  Part of that has to do with quarterback Lenorris Footman being injured somewhat this season.  Last year, Footman took the league by storm and was perhaps the SWAC’s best player the last seven games of the season.  Footman appears to be healthy and will start against Southern.  Noah Johnson has played in all six games for the Braves and is capable of running the offense if Footman gets injured or struggles.  Footman is completing passes at a much higher percentage than last year (59.4) and has thrown four touchdowns and three interceptions.  He is a great threat to run the football averaging 7.3 yards per carry and has rushed for three touchdowns.

The Jaguars defense is better than it has been in year’s past.  Alcorn runs the football pretty well and the Jaguars are last in the league against the run.  But SU has the best pass defense in the SWAC and lead the conference with 10 interceptions.  Cornerback Danny Johnson was third in passes defended in the SWAC last year and has nine this year (five pass breakups, four interceptions) which leads the league.