MONTGOMERY—Armed with 11 returning starters, the Alabama State University football team will open the 2010 season tomorrow night against Mississippi Valley State University. The two teams will meet at the Cramton Bowl for a 7 p.m. kick-off. It is not only the season-opener, but the conference-opener for both teams.
Junior Devin Dominguez came out of preseason practice earning the starting quarterback job. He will have plenty of offensive weapons at his disposal, including All-SWAC performer Nick Andrews at one wide out position and talented sophomore Landon Jones at another wide out spot.
The coaching staff has brought in size along the offensive line. Senior Bruce Beal leads a group that averages 297 pounds across the front line.
Defensively, the Hornets have Kynjee Cotton and Donovan Masline back to lead a talented and fast group of defenders. Last season the defense only allowed 3.4 yards per rush and expect that number to be even lower this season. Another number the Hornets defense expects to improve is in turnovers. In 2009 ASU intercepted 11 passes and recovered five fumbles, this off-season the defense has worked hard on forcing more turnovers.
The Hornets will trot out a young team in 2010 with only six seniors as they look to improve on the 4-7 2009 record. There are 25 freshmen or sophomore listed on the two-deep heading into the season-opener, with nine of those being starters.
MVSU finished 3-8 last season and has an entire new coaching staff in 2010. Karl Morgan will lead the Delta Devils this season, moving over from the University of North Alabama where he spent the past five years as the defensive coordinator.
The Delta Devils return 51 lettermen from last year and that includes 15 starters. Nine of those starters are on the defensive side of the ball while six offensive starters return.
The Hornets will host six games this season. Arkansas-Pine Bluff comes to Montgomery next week and ASU will host Texas Southern and Savannah State during the month of October.
November will see ASU host Jackson State before closing the regular season against Tuskegee in the 87th Turkey Day Classic.
ASU will play at Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State in back-to-back weekends in September. ASU will then travel to Grambling State in October and will play in the 69th Magic City Classic against Alabama A&M to end the month.
ASU's final road game of the season will be at Southern University on Nov. 13.
-Hornets-
