HBCU Football Week 6: Who Will Win The SWAC West?
HOUSTON - The race for the SWAC West crown is highly competitive, with four teams vying for the title. Who will win? The Good, Bad, and Ugly is becoming an annual movie theme in the wacky SWAC West. Last season, three teams - Texas Southern, Prairie View, and Southern - had a chance to claim the division title. Ultimately, the Jaguars handled their business and won, while the Tigers and Panthers fell in season finale upsets.
After the Week 6 results, the SWAC West will have another exciting finish for fans.
Credit: PV Athletics
Prairie View A&M (3-3, 3-1 SWAC) jumps back into the top spot with a 31-12 win over Mississippi Valley State (0-5, 0-2 SWAC). Coach McDowell's team did what they were supposed to do in front of a home crowd - WIN! The Panthers pounded the Delta Devils for 220 rushing yards on Blackshear Field.
Credit: GSU Athletics
Grambling State (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) slid to second place, losing 25-24 to Alcorn State (3-3, 2-1) in a highly competitive match. The loss may come back to bite the Tigers. Coach Jackson could not use his potent rushing attack against the Braves, who limited the Tigers to 60 rushing yards. QB Myles Crawley could have played better, but his second of the three interceptions was the back-breaker for the G-Men.
Alcorn State (3-3, 2-1) had another CLUTCH performance from signal-caller Aaron Allen. He led an 81-yard game-winning drive for the Braves to capture the lead with 1:45 remaining. Allen completed 20 of 31 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Fred McNair had a solid coaching job to keep his guys calm and got them back into the game during the 4th quarter.
Credit: Kyle T. Mosley, HBCU Legends
Southern (2-3, 2-1 SWAC) fell from No. 1 to No. 4 in the division when Florida A&M Rattlers slithered out of A.W. Mumford with a 26-19 win over the Jags. Coach Dooley's "Got Some 'Splaining To Do," with the team's time management with less than 2 minutes remaining. He called two rushing plays up the gut of the FAMU defensive line that wouldn't budge the entire game and melted precious time off the clock. The Jaguar Nation is getting restless...this one didn't help.
Credit: FAMU Athletics
However, Southern went blow-for-blow against the SWAC East leader and favorite to win the conference title. Did Southern expose enough about the Rattlers to give a blueprint for defeating them at the SWAC Football Championship game in Tallahassee?
Two things about FAMU and Grambling State - penalties are a problem. Coaches Willie Simmons and Hue Jackson must find a way to clean up the "hot-headed" personal foul flags being thrown against their teams. Those infractions are liabilities that could cost their programs titles.
We shall see.
What's Next In The West for Saturday, Oct. 14?
- Prairie View plays a non-conference game versus Houston Christian.
- Grambling hosts Alabama A&M.
- Alcorn has a bye.
- Southern host Lincoln (CA).
SWAC WEST CONTESTS TO WATCH
- Nov. 10 Grambling at UAPB won't be a cakewalk for the Tigers. The Golden Lions under the Friday Night Lights could be dangerous.
- Nov. 11: Prairie Views meets Southern in Baton Rouge!
- Nov. 11: Alcorn State visits Texas Southern
- Nov. 25: The Bayou Classic - the fate of the SWAC West could come down to whoever wins or loses the 50th installment of the legendary Bayou Classic.
Unless Prairie View stumbles and loses to Southern on Nov. 11, the Panthers are the favorites to win the SWAC West. Grambling must beat UAPB and Southern to claim the division title. But, if Southern defeats PV and goes on to vanquish Grambling, they could represent the SWAC West against either Florida A&M or Jackson State. But, don't count out Alcorn! It will take a huge collapse from the Rattlers not to host the SWAC Championship title game.
Either way, the showdowns for the SWAC West crown are going to be nailbiters.
We shall see.