GSU hosts Delta Devils Saturday
, buddy@rustonleader.com
10-30-2009
GRAMBLING — Grambling State University’s chances of repeating as Western Division champs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference are growing slimmer by each Saturday.But while Rod Broadway would love to be at the top of the standings at season’s end, the Tigers’ third-yar head coach is far more concerned with the week-to-week progress of his own team.
“We can’t be concerned about the other teams are doing,” he said. “I know that might sound like coachspeak, but that’s the way it is here. Our whole thing since we came here is make sure our team gets better every week.”
In the past two weeks, the Tigers (4-3, 2-1) have done just that, posting back-to-back wins after having suffered two straight losses.
Grambling will try and make it three in a row Saturday with a 2 p.m. homecoming and conference test against Mississippi Valley (2-5, 1-3), tied for last place in the Eastern Division.
The Delta Devils may be just the right foe for that streak to continue, as GSU has dominated this series through the years. How about 10 straight wins and a 45-4 advantage all-time?
“But I have seen as much, if not more, balance in the conference this year as I’ve seen and every team is capable of beating the other,” Broadway said. “You can’t be concerned about what is on paper in terms of wins and losses. It’s about doing it on th field and what we have to do is go out and play at our best Saturday. I think if we do that, then we’ll be fine. But we can’t get caught up in what the other team has done or how they’ve done against Grambling in other years. It’s about this game only.”
The Tigers’ success of the past two games has been predicated by the early establishment of a strong rushing attack, one that ranks No. 2 in the SWAC with a per-game average of 162.7 yards.
Juniors Frank Warren (No. 2, 82.4) and Cornelius Walker (No. 6, 52.7) are in the Top 10 individually.
“Our success offensively starts with the run, that’s no secret,” Broadway said.
“We’ve got to be able to run the football to be successful. Defensively, we’ve got to stop the run.”
In the case of Valley, the defense will probably have to concentrate more on the pass, where the Delta Devils’ have averaged 197 yards per game as compared to 53.1 on the ground.
“They’ll throw the football all over the place,” Broadway said. “We’ve got to be able to get some pressure on them up front or they can have success throwing.”
Valley is on a three-game losing, the last win having been 61-6 in a runaway against Texas College on Oct. 3.
“They’re better than their record shows,” Broadway said. “Sometimes, there is no correlation whatsoever between the record and how a team does on the field. What I see is a good Valley team that we need to be ready for come Saturday.”
If past results in the series offer any measuring point, figure on the Tigers being ready.
__________
Fast facts on GSU-Mississippi Valley
When: Saturday; Where: Robinson Stadium.; Kickoff time: 2 p.m.; Radio: The Peach, 99.3 FM; Santoria Black, play-by-play; Ossie Clark, analyst; Records: Grambling, 4-3, 2-1 SWAC; Mississippi Valley, 2-5, 1-3 SWAC; Series record: Grambling leads, 45-4; Head coaches: Rod Broadway, Grambling; Willie Totten, Mississippi Valley; Players to Watch—For the Tigers: Greg Dillon, QB; Christian Anthony, DE; Nigel Copeland, DB; Cornelius Walker, RB; Revay Smith, OL; For the Delta Devils: Paul Roberts, QB; Carlos Sanchez, PK; Jared Green, DT; Brandon Stargell, WR; Keldrick Hooks,DE; National rankings: Grambling, No. 4 in BoxToRow.com, No. 4 in Sheridan Broadcast Network poll and tied for No. 39 in The Sports Network poll; Sagarin Ratings: Grambling, No. 157; Mississippi Valley, No. 230.
Other Sports Headlines
