Texas Southern-Grambling Showdown Is 'Missing A. Body' — Andrew Body!

A preview of the Texas Southern at Grambling State showdown without quarterback Andrew Body

HOUSTON — The SWAC West's "Clash of the Tigers" between Texas Southern (0-3, 0-1 SWAC West) and Grambling State (1-2, 0-0 SWAC West) will kick off at Eddie Robinson Stadium at 3 PM CT on HBCU GO.   Myles Crawley will enter the once highly-anticipated showdown of the conference's young gunslingers will be "missing A. Body" — Mr. Andrew Body for Texas Southern.   TSU is in a must-win situation and cannot afford to go down 0-2 in the division should they lose to Grambling.

Andrew Body, Texas Southern University; Credit: Kyle A. Mosley, HBCU Legends

A body that is missing is Mr. Andrew Body. Once again, the captain and leader of the Tigers will be out due to a shoulder injury. Furman transfer quarterback Jace Wilson will get another start to lead the TSU offense that has sputtered in Body's absence. Coach McKinney provided a health update on his offensive leader, Andrew Body, during the Week-4 SWAC Press Conference.

"Right now, the only thing I can tell you is that we're waiting to hear what our doctors are going to allow him to be able to do," McKinney said to HBCU Legends. "And as far as I know, they hadn't talked to him just yet, and he'll be a game-time decision."

Wilson passed for 104 yards of the 185 total offensive yards in the 59-7 fall to the Rice Owls. "We're trying to find a rhythm offensively. We've played a couple of really good defense programs back-to-back. So we're just trying to find the rhythm and find our identity without Andrew. If Andrew is not able to play with us this week."

Running backs LaDarius Owens and Jacorey Howard can rush the football effectively when given the opportunity by offensive coordinator David Marsh. In the season opener, Owens displayed break-away speed with a 77-yard touchdown burst through the Prairie View defense. Howard is the slobber-knocker of the two backs, providing tough runs in short-yardage situations.

Credit: Marcus Plummer, Grambling Athletics

McKinney added this statement about his offense and defense: "We're going to do what we do offensively. We have confidence in both Andrew and our scheme is our scheme. We've recruited those guys to play in the system, so we're going to be who we are. And then, as far as defensively goes, guys just got to fly around, make plays, get the ball back when we get those opportunities, be smart, be fast, be physical, and play sound football. Have eye discipline on the back end, and just play together."

The Texas Southern defense cannot allow quarterback Myles Crawley and the Grambling offense to record 485 yards of total offense as Rice did in Week 3. When Coach McKinney spoke of "eye discipline," it was about his defensive backfield, which yielded four touchdowns to the Rice wide receivers. At times, the secondary was out of position and caught flat-footed looking into the Owls' backfield with wideouts racing past them for long scores.

Wilson must contend with a dynamic pass rush from defensive linemen Sundiata Anderson and Keyshawn Johnson. Andrew Body may not be the starter running out of the TSU locker room in Grambling. Therefore, it will be up to Wilson and his comrades in Maroon and White to turn the tides as a team and focus on the rushing attack to control the clock and tempo of the game. Also, it will help to limit the No. 3 quarterback in the SWAC, who led his team with 220 passing yards and three touchdowns to his receiving trio of Keilon Elder, Floyd Chalk, and Dajon Richard in routing Florida Memorial 58-22. Hue Jackson's offense racked up 403 yards of total offense, with 183 yards on the ground.

Last season, Coach Clarence McKinney's team sent the G-Men packing with a 41-7 victory in Houston. Grambling has a better offense with Crawley under center. It will be up to Wilson and the TSU Tigers defense to make a stand to keep pace in the SWAC West title race.