LUT WILLIAMS BCSP Editor
The basketball season came to an end this week as black college teams bowed out in the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments.
But just as a halt comes to a pandemic-strained basketball season, the equally strained spring football season is heating up.
With no football being played in the CIAA and the SIAC – with the exception of Savannah State – and no championship being contested in the MEAC – though three teams are playing – the bulk of attention is going to the SWAC where everyone is playing except three-time defending champion Alcorn State.
With new head coach Deion (Coach Prime) Sanders at Jackson State and mini powershifts taking place in both the league’s East and West Divisions, the spring football race could not be hotter or more interesting, nor the prospects for the fall when Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman join the SWAC fray.
SWAC WEST
While the Coach Prime saga is playing out in the East, Arkansas-Pine Bluff under new head coach Doc Gamble is making noise and headlines out West.
All the Golden lions (2-0, 2-0 W) have done under Gamble is knock off perennial division powers Southern (33-30 on March 6) and Grambling State (48-21) last week to move to the head of the West race in the pandemic-shortened six-game season. Both victories came on the road. The last time the Golden lions beat both Grambling and southern in the same season was in 2006.
UAPB is currently leading the SWAC in scoring (40.7 ppg.) and passing (284.7 ypg.) behind league passing leader Skyler Perry. The junior is hitting on 59.7% (40 of 67) of his pass[1]es for 569 yards with six TDs and just one pick. Redshirt senior Josh Wilkes tops the SWAC receiving stats with 10 receptions for 215 yards (21.5 ypr., 107.5 ypg.) and two TDs. Harry Ballard III (11 rec., 143 yds. 2 TDs) and Ralph Tyrin (9 rec., 114 yds.) give the Golden lions three of the top 10 receivers in the league. The offensive line has given up just two sacks.
Six-foot, 205-pound junior linebacker Isaac Peppers leads the Golden lions in tackles (18) and sacks (2.5) and has forced a league-best two fumbles. senior DB Jalon Thigpen’s two picks leads the league, one he returned for a score. The defense is giving up a stingy 114.5 yards on the ground, best in the league, and is second in total defense.
UAPB is at home this week (7 p.m.) to take on Alabama State (2-1, 2-1 E) in what could be shaping up as a May 1, SWAC Championship game preview. ASU is fresh off knocking Jackson State and Coach Prime from its unbeaten perch last week.
Another SWAC East vs. West battle is on tap this week as Alabama A&M (2-0, 1-0 E) finally gets back into action hosting Grambling State (0-3, 0-3 W) saturday in Huntsville, Al. (2 p.m.).
A&M has had its games with Mississippi Valley State (on March 6) and with Prairie View A&M (on March 20) postponed while those programs were on pause because of COVID-19 issues. Those cancellations were sandwiched around a promising 31-7 win over MEAC defending co-champion South Carolina State, a game put in place on March 6 after MVSU had to bow out.
The Bulldogs will be led into battle by star quarterback Aqeel Glass who recovered from three early interceptions to throw for 272 yards and four scores vs. SC state. Junior running back Gary Quarles ran for 92 yards (21 carries) and Glass hit three different receivers for scores. Head coach Connell Maynor’s troops are likely to be a little rusty after being off for three weeks.
This past week the SWAC announced that the A&M at Prairie View game has been rescheduled for next Saturday, April 3 and the A&M at MVSU game is re-set for April 24.
Grambling and head coach Broderick Fobbs are fighting out of an 0-3 hole after loss[1]es to Jackson state, Prairie View and Pine Bluff that has them at the bottom of the West Division standings. The JSU (33-28) and PV (17-10) losses were close before the G-Men took it on the chin (48-21) from UAPB last week.
Changes have come on the sidelines where offensive coordinators Mark Orlando and Kendrick Nord have left in successive weeks. Changes as well are afoot on the field where junior juco transfer Elijah Walker has replaced incumbent redshirt senior Geremy Hickbottom starting at quarterback. The two have combined for just two TDs and three interceptions in three games.
Defensively, Grambling has given up 12 TDs, more than anyone in the league. The Tigers are next-to-last in rushing offense and total defense and last in rushing defense.
With three losses and only three games left on the schedule, this is a must-win game if the G-Men are to have any say in the final conference outcome.
Prairie View A&M (2-0, 2-0 W) who is tied with UAPB atop the West standings is off until its aforementioned date next week with Alabama A&M. Southern (2-1, 2-1 W) is off this week and travels to play at Jackson state next week. Texas Southern (0-2, 0-2 W) is idle this week and hosts Grambling next week.
SWAC EAST
Based on its forfeit win over Alcorn state, Alabama A&M (2-0, 1-0 E) sits atop the East standings headed to its home date Saturday with Grambling state.
Alabama state (2-1, 2-1 E) also has a forfeiture win over Alcorn state and its big 35-29 win over Jackson state last Saturday. ASU’s loss came 24-21 to Southern at home on a last-second field goal to open the season.
Alabama state head coach Dr. Donald Hill-Eley has gotten great play from his defense that currently leads the SWAC surrendering just 312.0 yards per game and just 157.5 passing yards. sophomore linebacker Colton Adams (18 tackles, 2 forced fumbles) is the ringleader.
Running back Ezra Gray, who gouged JSU for 195 yards and three back-breaking fourth-quarter scoring runs, is the conference rushing leader (7.2 yards per carry, 134.0 ypg.). Redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Nettles (43-69, 62.3%, 406 yds., 4 TDs is only behind his counterpart Saturday, UAPB’s Skyler Perry, in passing stats. Jackson state (3-1, 2-1 E) is off this week and hosts southern next week. Mississippi Valley state (0-2, 0 -2 E) is idle before hosting UAPB next week.