As the season reaches the halfway point for Prairie View A&M football, the importance of each game in the quest for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship continues to grow.
Saturday, the Panthers (2-3 overall, 2-1 SWAC) travel to face three-time defending Eastern Division champion and current division leader Alcorn State (4-2, 2-0) in a 2 p.m. conference showdown in Lorman, Miss. at Spinks-Casem Stadium.
The PVAMU Sports Network broadcast will begin with the pregame show at 1:30 p.m. featuring interviews with D'Lo, Miss. native WR
Khadarel Hodge and Head Coach
Willie Simmons prior to kickoff. The game will be broadcast in Houston on Synergy Radio 1480 AM, and online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork. Fans can also watch Alcorn's live video stream of the game for $6.95, with these and live stats links available at pvpanthers.com.
The Panthers are currently in second place in the Western Division behind leader and defending SWAC Champion Grambling (5-1, 2-0) and tied in the loss column with Southern (3-3, 1-1). Both teams have a bye this week.
PVAMU will look to get back on the winning track after last week's loss to Grambling. QB
Lavell McCullers threw for a season-high 194 yards a pair of touchdown passes, one each to Hodge and WR Josh Simmons. Defensively, the Panthers held the Tigers to only three points and 74 total yards in the second half.
Alcorn has won three games in a row, including a 24-10 win at Alabama State last Thursday night. QB Lenorris Footman had 282 total yards and accounted for all three Braves' touchdowns. Defensively, Alcorn shutout the Hornets in the first half and yielded only 238 total yards.
Prairie View A&M has won eight of the last 10 matchups in the series, including both meetings in the Simmons era. The former Alcorn State offensive coordinator before being getting the head coaching job on The Hill, Simmons won in his return to Alcorn to 2015, a 40-34 victory. Last season, Simmons matched up with former Alcorn roommate and current Braves' head coach Fred McNair in the new Panther Stadium, with the Panthers rallying for a 31-27 victory.
HOMECOMING TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for the 2017 homecoming game are on sale online at pvpanthers.com/tickets.
Following the Alcorn game and a bye week, Prairie View A&M will begin the second half of the season hosting Bacone College on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m.
