PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M football team takes over the national spotlight tomorrow evening as the Panthers (3-4, 2-2) welcome Jackson State (2-5, 1-1 SWAC) to The Hill for a pivotal Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup.

Kick-off is set for 6:30 p.m. from Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field, and the game – which has been designated as "Pink Out Night" – will be broadcast on ESPNU. 

Both sides are looking to reassert themselves into championship conversation. Jackson State comes in on a 31-28 overtime win over Mississippi Valley State where the Tigers stormed back from a 21-0 first-half deficit.

Meanwhile, the Panthers will try to build on last week's dominant 51-0 showing over Virginia-Lynchburg. The Panthers currently sit third in the SWAC Western Division while Jackson State is tied for similar standings in the SWAC Eastern Division.

Jackson State narrowly upended Prairie View A&M 34-28 in last year's meeting after the Panthers fell just shy of erasing a 24-0 deficit. Senior quarterback Jalen Morton saw limited action in the contest.

Additionally, the 2018-19 Prairie View A&M men's basketball team will receive their SWAC championship rings during halftime. The Panthers' 2018-19 SWAC All-Academic honorees will be recognized at this time as well.

Tickets for seating on the east side of the stadium can be purchased at a 25 percent discount at pvpanthers.com by entering code "ESPNU" during purchase. They can also be purchased at the PVAMU Athletic Ticket Office. 

Panthers News and Notes:
- Prairie View A&M enters the game with nation's No. 2 offense in terms of total yards per game (514.1) and the SWAC's top scoring offense to the tune of 36.7 points per game. As the Tigers enter the contest with the league's ninth-ranked scoring defense at 36.1 points allowed per game, the Panthers may be in line for an offensive explosion.

- Senior running back Dawonya Tucker ranks fifth in the country in rushing yards at 757 along with seven touchdowns and will look to get back on track against a Tigers defense that has surrendered nearly 240 yards per game on the ground.

- The Panthers have won four of the past five meetings between over the Tigers while averaging 33 points a game over that span.

Scouting the Competition:
- Jackson State will be led by signal-caller Derrick Ponder, who led the Tigers' offense during its comeback win over Mississippi Valley State. Ponder has performed rather efficiently behind center, having thrown for 1,150 yards and 11 scores on the season.

- The Tigers are coming off a week filled with league honors, as linebacker Keonte Hampton, specialist Adrian Salazar and running back Kymani Clarke each earned SWAC Player of the Week accolades. Hampton in particular is having a strong season, as he currently leads the conference in tackles with 71. However, the Tigers secondary -- which fields the league's second-best pass defense in terms of yards allowed per game (166.4) -- may be the most impressive unit for Jackson State.

- Led by Jordan Johnson's 345 rushing yards, the Tigers field a multi-pronged rushing attack that can get production from multiple options out of the backfield as well. Clarke is coming off a standout effort where he rushed for 174 yards against the Delta Devils.

 

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