Sports - Colleges

Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

JSU has new starting QB for today’s game

Jackson State could reach the SWAC championship game with a losing record.

The Tigers (2-5, 2-2 SWAC) entertain Alabama State in a critical contest today at 4 p.m. at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Jackson State and Alabama A&M are tied atop the East Division, and clash next weekend in Huntsville. Alcorn State, which has an open date, sit one game behind.

The Tigers are coming off an open date, which coach Rick Comegy thinks solved their offensive issues. Quarterback Dedric McDonald is now the starter.

“I didn’t we’d be in this situation,” Comegy said. “We’re blessed to be in this position.”

@BR Body bold Lede colon:Mississippi College at Sul Ross State: The Choctaws (6-2, 4-1 American Southwest Conference) was dropped from the Division III poll after falling to Howard Payne.

Quarterback Adam Shaffer, who threw five interceptions last week, must rebound if MC wants to win and keep its Division III playoff hopes alive. MC owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with Mary-Hardin Baylor, whom it beat last month.

@BR Body bold Lede colon:Texas Southern at Mississippi Valley State: Quarterback Paul Roberts hopes to finally return as the Delta Devils (3-6, 1-4) play their final SWAC game of the season.

The Gulfport native has missed the last three games with an ankle injury and the Delta Devils look lost without him.

@BR Body bold Lede colon:West Georgia at Delta State: The Statesmen (4-5, 3-4 Gulf South Conference) are the most disappointing Division II team because they expected to contend for a national title and be ranked in the Top five.

Delta State closes its season with a home finale against West Georgia. Senior linebacker Lardester Hicks-Green became the school’s all-time tackle leader last week and has 336 total stops.

@BR Body bold Lede colon:Campbellsville at Belhaven: The Blazers (5-4, 4-1 Mid-South Division) took a step back, falling at fourth-ranked Lambuth University last weekend.

Quarterback Jerred Wallace has played well for Belhaven. They need Lambuth to lose twice in order to reach the Mid-South title game and earn a possible NAIA playoff berth.