Prairie View A&M University football head football coach Willie Simmons addressed the media earlier Monday on the SWAC head coaches teleconference.
 
The Panthers (1-2 overall, 1-0 SWAC) improved to 3-0 in SWAC openers under Simmons, with two of the victories coming on the road. PVAMU's 34-0 win at Alabama State Saturday night was the first shutout since 2009, as the defense limited the Hornets to just seven first downs and 127 yards total offense, forcing three turnovers.
 
On The Alabama St. Game: "It felt good to go on the road in a hostile environment amidst a lot of adversity – delayed flight (on Friday), short lightning delay before the game started – and to be able to come out with the win. It was a much-needed win, our first win of the season. It was great for it to be in conference play, and to start out the conference 1-0 and keep our long-term goals intact. I'm proud of the guys for the way they competed. Proud of the way they handled all the adversity thrown at them. I thought it was about time for them to put a complete game together in all three phases…I tip my hat to the defense for pitching our first shutout in conference play during my tenure here. They had a dominating effort on that side of the ball.
 
More On Play of The Defense: "I thought our defense did a phenomenal job of stepping up to the occasion. They played with a lot of energy and a lot of effort. They communicated as well as they ever have and again I thought they played with a passion it takes to be a very dominant unit. I'm proud of them. I tip my hat to Ralph Street our defensive coordinator who did a phenomenal job – he and his staff – of putting together a game plan which did what I wanted it to do, which was neutralize their running game. (Alabama State) wasn't able to run the ball very well, and I think that attributed to the success on that side of the ball. I'm proud of them, and we'll need another great performance from that side of the ball this week as we face a Jackson State team that has some dangerous weapons on offense."
 
On Rushing For More Than 200 Yards For The Second Time In Three Games: "That's the focal point of our offense is to be able to run the football. We challenge our guys every week. It starts with the offensive line, and how physical they are, how sound we are as far as getting a hat on a hat, and the quarterback on making good decisions. The most impressive thing I thought was how the receivers blocked downfield.  They took pride in engaging blocks downfield, and allowed for us to hit some explosive runs."
 
MORE NEWCOMERS MAKING PLAYS The Panthers continue to have new faces making big plays.
 
This past week at Alabama State, WR Markcus Hardy caught a 61-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter to break the game open. A transfer from Angelo State, Hardy caught two passes for 79 yards in the game.
 
For the second straight week, LB Anthony Stubbs led the team in tackles. The transfer from Monroe College recorded nine tackles, one forced fumble and one sack against the Hornets.
 
K Zach Elder continues to be a big scoring weapon for the Panthers. He has converted all 14 scoring kicks this season, making all five PATs and all nine field goals.
 
Last week at Alabama State, Elder made all four PATs and a pair of field goals. He converted from 21 yards out in the third quarter, and a career-long 48 yard field goal in the fourth quarter. It is the longest field goal made by a PVAMU kicker this decade and the second-longest in the SWAC this season.
 
UP NEXT: The Panthers will return home for the first time since Sept. 7 to host Jackson State Saturday at 4 p.m. at Panther Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online at pvpanthers.com/tickets.
 
The game can be heard in Houston on the new home for Panthers' football on Synergy Radio 1480 AM and online at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork, beginning with the pregame show at 3:30 p.m. 
 
Jackson St. (0-4, 0-1 SWAC) were unable to hold on to an 11-point fourth quarter lead Saturday in losing at home to Arkansas-Pine Bluff 34-27 in overtime.
 
The Panthers have won three in a row in the series, including a 28-14 win at Jackson State last year.
 
STATE FAIR CLASSIC ONLINE TICKET SALES END FRIDAY Online sales for the 2017 State Fair Classic Football game end this Friday at 5 p.m.
 
Fans can purchase online by visiting the football schedule page at pvpanthers.com.

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