"Big Cat Showdown" to feature SU Jags and Prairie View A&M Panthers in Reliant Stadium :: Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (Bryant Lee) faces off with Defensive Player of the Year (Zach East)

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year (Bryant Lee) faces off with Defensive Player of the Year (Zach East)

Oct. 22, 2008

The Game: The "Big Cat" Showdown reaches into the state of Texas this weekend, as Southern takes on Prairie View A&M in Houston in a Western Division showdown. While the Jaguars come in at 4-3 overall, they are 3-0 in conference play, with wins over Alcorn State, Jackson State, and Texas Southern. Southern has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation, scoring at least 32 points in five of seven games this season, including outputs of 35, 45, and 49 points this month alone.

QB Bryant Lee, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has combined for 13 touchdowns in October (7 passing, 6 rushing). The Jaguars are ninth in the nation in total offense (442.1 yards per game), 10th in passing offense (283.7 ypg), and 15th in passing efficiency (149.4 rating). Southern has thrown 16 touchdown passes to just four interceptions.

Prairie View A&M comes in to Saturday's tilt with a 6-1 record, 2-1 in SWAC play. Defense is the bread and butter of the Panthers, who have posted two shutouts this season, including a 15-0 road win last week at the Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In addition, the Panthers have allowed more than 17 points just once this season. LB Zach East, the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and 2008 winner of the Preseason Award, anchors the unit that leads the nation in scoring defense (13.1 points per game), total defense (192.1 yards per game), and is fourth in both passing defense (137.1 ypg), and pass efficiency defense (95.42 rating). The Panthers have allowed just six touchdown passes this season while picking off 11 passes.

Southern is looking to keep pace with Grambling State in the West race. The Tigers gave the Panthers' their lone loss this season and need a win to stay in the hunt. Last season, Southern's defense proved to be the difference in a 12-2 win. In the last meeting in Houston in 2006, however, Prairie View earned its first win over Southern since 1971. Reliant Stadium will be the site for this Wild West matchup.

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