UAPB readies for switch to run

— Arkansas-Pine Bluff is prepared to play against two Jackson State quarterbacks today at Golden Lion Stadium.

Neither of them, though, will bring the arm or the credentials of Casey Therriault, who passed for 594 yards passing and seven touchdowns in two blowouts of UAPB in 2010 and 2011.

“He was special,” UAPB Coach Monte Coleman said of the former Jackson State quarterback who now plays for the CFL’s British Columbia Lions.

The Golden Lions (3-2, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) might also see a Jackson State offense that features a developing ground game rather than the pass heavy attacks the Tigers used under Therriault.

Jackson State was the SWAC’s best passing team a year ago, averaging 348.1 yards per game, almost 100 more yards than any other team in the league. But in last week’s comeback victory over Prairie View A&M, Jackson State (2-3, 2-1) rushed 58 times for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns, all season highs.

That came two weeks after the Tigers rushed 47 times for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-35 victory over Texas Southern.

Jackson State, leading the SWAC in passing again this year with an average of 247.4 yards per game, averaged 4.14 yards per rush in its two victories compared to 2.69 yards per rush in its three losses - two of which have come against SEC member Mississippi State and undefeated Tennessee State.

“We’re kind of settling back now to the type of offense that I like to run,” Jackson State Coach Rick Comegy said. “Put some big backs back there and bang at you and come at you with some play-action. You know, good old rock ’em, sock ’em football instead of being so designed in the passing game.”

Coleman said it doesn’t matter much to him if Jackson State runs or passes, although he pointed out the Tigers’ new found reliance on the run after Tommy Gooden’s 135 yards and a touchdown against Prairie View A&M last week.

He said both Jackson State quarterbacks pose problems. Clayton Moore started last week’s game before leaving with a shoulder injury. Even though Comegy said Moore will be available today, senior Dedric McDonald, who has completed 50.9 percent of his passes for 653 yards and 3 touchdowns, has been named the starter.

“It’s kind of like five in one hand and five in the other,” Coleman said. “It doesn’t make that much of a difference. We knew last year they were going to throw the football. They’re still going to throw the football, but for whatever reason they’re running the ball a bit more.”

A heavier dose of running might work in UAPB’s favor.

Though the Golden Lions gave up 201 yards rushing and three touchdowns in last week’s loss to Tennessee State, they are still fourth in the SWAC in rush defense at 143.4 yards per game.

The larger problem was big plays in the passing game. Of Tennessee State’s five touchdowns, three were set up by pass plays of 22, 42 and 50 yards.

“It’s not a big concern,” Coleman said. “There were things we did well, also we had some breakdowns. We had mental errors. Sometimes we had the right call in the secondary, they were just a little complicated. It’s not a major problem. We just need to make some adjustments.”

What could be a concern is if UAPB drops another SWAC game today.

The Golden Lions lead the Western Division but have yet to play a game against a division opponent. A second loss could drop them behind Southern University of Baton Rouge (2-2, 1-1) and into a tie with Texas Southern (1-4, 1-2) with road games against both teams looming.

That hasn’t been lost on the Golden Lions, even after last week’s loss. A victory against Tennessee State, ranked No. 1 in the Sheridan Broadcasting Network black college football poll, could have propelled UAPB into the black college football national championship discussion.

Switching their minds from that goal to the pursuit of a SWAC championship has been relatively easy, Coleman said..

“Guys have responded and came back this week ready to rebound,” Coleman said. “With Jackson State coming in this week, this is the most important game of our careers.”

Today’s game JACKSON STATE AT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

WHEN 6 p.m.

WHERE Golden Lion Stadium, Pine Bluff RECORDS UAPB (3-2, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference); Jackson State (2-3, 2-1) COACHES UAPB: Monte Coleman (22-27 in fifth season); Jackson State: Rick Comegy (43-29 in seventh season) RADIO KUAP-FM, 89.7, in Pine Bluff INTERNET uapblionsroar.com

Sports, Pages 21 on 10/06/2012

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