It is very evident that the Prairie View A&M football program has been improved greatly, thanks to new head coach Henry Frazier III, and the hard work of the supporting coaching staff. In the 2003 season the average margin of victory for the panthers’ opponents was over 40 points a game. Even though the panthers are currently (2-4), in every game Prairie View has been putting up points despite falling short in four games so far.
In the past, Prairie View was widely known for coming out strong in the first half, and not being able to execute in the second half. This year, the rest of the SWAC have realized that Prairie View A&M is no longer a roll over and die type football program.
In every game the Panthers have continued to play hard all four quarters. When asked about the effort of the team, Frazier replied, “Tremendous. I think the effort is great. These guys haven’t quit, they work hard in the weight room, and they’ve been going to class, study hall, and bible study. They’ve been doing a lot of things off the field that has enabled them to continue to fight.”
The Alabama State Hornets (5-1), led by head coach Charles Coe, who is in his second year of coaching at the university, brought his team in from Montgomery, Alabama ready to play. The Hornets, fresh off of their 28-6 win over the Jackson State Tigers last week came into Saturday’s matchup strictly in the driver’s seat, as Alabama State is currently in first place in the eastern division of the SWAC.
This season the hornets seem to be poised to duplicate their performance last season by reaching the SWAC championship, where they suffered a loss to SWAC football powerhouse, Southern University.
Prairie View who has been striving more than thriving this year, putting on great performances this year even in some losing games. Prairie View started Saturday’s contest on the wrong foot by giving up a fumble to Alabama State on their own 11-yard line, leading to a 4-yard run by Keldric Williams. The Hornets never looked back, putting together a nine-play 61 yard drive that resulted in RB Robert Randolph reaching pay dirt for Alabama State’s second touchdown of the game, putting them up 14-0 to end the first quarter.
Prairie View freshman QB Chris Gibson, who, this past week made his second consecutive start, after debuting against Alcorn State last week, made an impression on the PV fans, playing a very productive game, completing 12 out of 25 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
In the second quarter the Panthers started to get more into the flow of things, as they were able to strike first with a six play 24-yard drive. That drive ended with a one yard TD pass from QB Chris Gibson to TE Anthony Gibson to cut the Hornets’ lead to 14-7 with 11:45 to go in the half.
Throughout the game Alabama State’s defense played sometimes with as many as eight or nine players trying to support the run, leaving only three defensive backs to defend the pass which made them vulnerable against Prairie View’s passing attack. When asked about the Hornets unique defensive scheme Frazier replied, “You can’t run with nine and 10 people in the box. You’ve got to throw the football. They (Alabama State) were saying ‘beat us passing’, and we had to take our shots.”
That’s exactly what Prairie View A&M began to do towards the end of the first half, highlighted by WR Anthony Wright’s amazing one-handed catch in Alabama State’s territory that got a standing ovation from the crowd.
Wright turned in season highs in receiving yards, catching three passes for 106 yards, with a long pass of 59 yards, as he stretched Alabama State’s secondary throughout the game. The last player for Prairie View to gain 100 yards or more receiving in a single game was current WR Bertrum Jackson (three catches for 100 yds. One TD against Tennessee State in 2002).
Alabama State then rebounded by scoring 14 unanswered points, gaining the momentum which carried over into the second half as RB Keldrick Williams put a stamp on the game with an impressive 89-yard run for a touchdown, making the score 35-14.
Prairie View continued to compete, as RB Arnell Fontenot scored a TD with 5:30 to go in the game. But the damage hadbeen done and the Panther fell to the Hornets 42-20.
This week is homecoming and the Panthers will play Lincoln University Saturday at 3 p.m. at Blackshear Field. Prairie View’s last homecoming victory was against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 2001.