As they follow every week and put together for the subsequent opponent, first-year head coach Alonzo Hampton and his Arkansas-Pine Bluff soccer group can’t enable themselves to have a look at their video games on paper, the place rankings, statistics, and predictions hardly ever favor the Golden Lions.
In the event that they ever wanted a reminder, it was delivered throughout final week’s go to to beforehand winless Mississippi Valley State.
Pine Bluff was soundly defeated, 42-17, returning house with out its first Southwestern Athletic Convention victory underneath Hampton. The Lions fell to 1-5 total (0-3 in SWAC) and can attempt once more on Saturday, the homecoming recreation.
However not like final week, when the opponent was one other struggling program with a first-year coach, Pine Bluff should deal with Alcorn State (3-3, 2-1), a title contender coming off a bye after back-to-back league wins.
“We’re very excited in regards to the journey we’re going to take to Arkansas and play towards an excellent soccer program,” Alcorn head coach Fred McNair advised reporters Tuesday.
McNair doesn’t need his gamers to get forward of themselves, pondering Pine Bluff after which Mississippi Valley (1-5) must be straightforward wins earlier than a SWAC West showdown towards Southern on Nov. 4. Throughout a latest follow, he provided examples as an instance the dangers of complacency and overconfidence.
“I emphasised the issues that occurred in NFL video games that day, the San Francisco 49ers dropping and the Philadelphia Eagles dropping,” he mentioned. “This can be a nice convention, and you’ll’t fall asleep on no one. On this convention it’s a must to be ready – 0-5, 1-6, it doesn’t matter. It’s a must to play a 60-minute ball recreation and play actual arduous in all phases. The document is out the window.”
Pine Bluff could also be a heavy underdog, however Hampton senses buy-in and dedication to the group motto, “Restoring the Pleasure.”
“Once you’re restoring one thing, you gotta get down and soiled,” Hampton mentioned. “You gotta dig a bit more durable with a purpose to get a few of that grime off – and we’ve acquired plenty of grime on us proper now. It might seem like we’re dropping, however I inform you we’re profitable. We’re headed in the correct path.”
Their arms can be full towards Alcorn, which averages 309 yards passing per convention recreation. The Braves are led by senior quarterback Aaron Allen, ranked thirteenth within the Soccer Championship Sequence in completion proportion (.688) and twenty fourth in passing effectivity (144.4). Amongst his favourite targets is junior wideout Malik Rodgers, ranked tenth nationally in yards per reception (20.38).
These numbers paint a cloudy image for Pine Bluff, which yields a SWAC-worst 284 yards passing per league recreation. Allen handed for 252 yards and three touchdowns in a 25-24 victory towards Grambling on Oct. 7. He’s thrown for 927 yards in his final three SWAC contests, with seven touchdowns towards two interceptions.
“In comparison with final yr he’s made some large steps in preparation,” McNair mentioned. “That’s attributable to (co-offensive coordinator/quarterback coach Jason) Phillips getting him ready all by means of the week. His development has helped as a result of folks are inclined to stack the field to ensure we don’t run the soccer, so we’ve got to be higher at throwing the ball round.”
Alcorn’s opponents have largely succeeded in stopping senior Jarveon Howard, a preseason All-SWAC halfback averaging simply 46 yards per recreation. However Pine Bluff’s protection is just barely higher towards the run than the cross, so Howard and Allen might be in line for large days.
“They’re the perfect soccer group we’ve performed this yr,” Hampton mentioned. “Offensively, they throw the ball properly, and (Howard) is great. In the event that they wish to give it to him 40 instances a recreation, he’s that good. That quarterback is absolutely, actually good. He is aware of the place to go together with the ball, and he’s not afraid of stress.”
Hampton confirmed his fearlessness in accepting the job at Pine Bluff, which has completed final within the SWAC West seven instances since 2014. The coach who vanquished Hampton final week, Kendrick Wade, is in an analogous state of affairs, inheriting a Mississippi Valley program that final posted a profitable document in 2006. The coaches’ duties are nearly equivalent – foster long-term perception within the course of (work) with little short-term proof of progress (wins). The secret’s specializing in each day requirements greater than weekly outcomes.
“It’s straightforward to promote the usual whenever you haven’t performed a recreation,” Wade advised reporters Tuesday after beating Pine Bluff for his first win. “However staying true to being on time, doing what you’re speculated to do, and being the place you’re speculated to be – with none wins to point out – it’s troublesome for some guys to remain the course.
Successful can knock groups off observe, too, in the event that they get too comfy and overlook what it takes. Alcorn’s problem on Saturday is to be conscious whereas Pine Bluff seeks a giant upset. However neither group can spend time learning the matchup on paper.
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