PRAIRIE VIEW – The Prairie View A&M football team (4-5, 3-3 SWAC) steps out of conference play one final time this season as it welcomes Edward Waters (1-9) to the Hill for the Panthers' home finale.
The Panthers are looking for consecutive victories for the first time this season. On paper, this weekend's contest shapes up as a potential mismatch in favor of Prairie View A&M.
Prairie View A&M continues to impress on the offensive side of the ball, boasting the nation's second-ranked total offense at better than 507 yards per game. Additionally, the Panthers average 36.9 points per contest, a figure that's good for 11th-most among FCS teams.
Leading the charge there – as he has from the start of the season – is senior running back Dawonya Tucker. In the midst of an all-SWAC type season, Tucker is among the top ranks in the league in rushing yards at 1,007, and has been very familiar with the end zone as of late. Tucker has scored six touchdowns over his past two games, and may be poised to take advantage of an Edward Waters defense that has allowed 40 or more points in five games this season.
Behind center, fans can expect to see either senior Jalen Morton or sophomore Trazon Connely. Both are dual-threats, and Connely recently made the most of extended action in the Panthers' 37-20 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The sophomore accounted for more than 260 yards of total offense and a score during an efficient game at signal-caller. Morton remains one of the more explosive playmakers in FCS football.
Edward Waters' offensive plans are generally designed around the ground game, so the Panthers will have to key on De'Shaun Hugee (751 rush yards, 6 TD) and Maliek Stephens (186 rush yards, 3 TD), the latter of whom is coming off a 100-yard performance versus Savannah State. At quarterback, Roshard Branch is likely to get the call. Branch has thrown for 734 yards and seven scores on the season.
At receiver, Tony Mullins (28 catches, 531 yards, 7 TD), Tristen Wallace (32 catches, 417 yards, TD) and Jordan Jones (23 catches, 401 yards, 3 TD) will look to get loose against statistically, has been a stingy Edward Waters pass defense. EWC has limited opponents to an average of 160 yards per game through the air, so unless the Panthers' outside threats play up to their explosive capabilities, this may be a game won or lost in the trenches.
Defensively, linebacker Tre'Shaud Smith leads the team with 78 total stops, six sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss. Additionally, Drake Cheatum (61 tackles, 2 INT, 5 PBU) has emerged as the stabilizing force in the secondary, and Storey Jackson (56 tackles, 4 sacks) has put together a strong campaign at linebacker as well.
This is the first-ever meeting between Prairie View A&M and Edward Waters.
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