Jacksonville State trying to keep Auburn off the mind

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are trying to quit focusing on what might have been, and instead concentrate on what can still be.

The Gamecocks (1-1) will attempt to take the first step in forgetting about last week’s near upset of Auburn when they host Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee State (2-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

JSU coach John Grass said if the Gamecocks are going to accomplish their goals of winning the OVC and making the FCS playoffs, then they can’t dwell on their 27-20 overtime loss to Auburn, a game they led by a touchdown with less than a minute left in regulation.

“We have to move on. We can’t let that one beat us twice,” Grass said. “We try not to be an emotional team. That’s a mistake when you become an emotional team and you . remember yesterday and whether you won or lost.

“We try to be concrete in how we handle our business. I think the maturity of our team and the way we’re built as people will allow us to do that. I’ll be upset and disappointed if I don’t see the same-old same-old in how we go about handling our business.”

Despite the loss to Auburn, JSU moved up five spots in the FCS STATS poll and is ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history. Fans also have been congratulating the team for their performance against Auburn, which is something that bothers Grass.

“I don’t want to hear it. As a competitor, as a team, you almost feel like it’s an insult,” Grass said. “You feel like folks are telling you that they really didn’t expect you to go down there and perform the way we performed.

“Our guys are not satisfied, and it kind of irks you when folks are proud of getting beat. We’re not proud. We’re upset.”

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Samford vs. Chattanooga, 2:30 p.m.

Samford begins play in the Southern Conference against a Chattanooga team that has posed problems for the Bulldogs over the years. In their seven seasons in the Southern Conference, the Bulldogs (2-0) are 2-5 against the Mocs (1-1), including a 38-24 loss last year.

“Other than Louisville (next week), they’re probably the best team we’ll play all season long,” Samford coach Chris Hatcher said. “They’re extremely well-coached, very physical and very athletic.”

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Miles vs. West Alabama, 4 p.m.

The Miles Golden Bears (0-2) continue their season-opening trek through the Gulf South Conference. West Alabama is the third consecutive GSC opponent for Miles. The Golden Bears lost to North Alabama and West Georgia.

UWA (2-0) is coming off a 34-8 victory over Cumberland. In addition to allowing only 173 yards in total offense, the Tigers blocked both a punt and a field goal.

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Tuskegee vs. Winston-Salem State, 1 p.m.

The Tuskegee Golden Tigers get to show off their new ranking in the AFCA Division II top-25 poll before a national audience when they play Winston-Salem State in the ESPN3 Division II game of the week.

Tuskegee (2-0) is ranked No. 24 following last week’s 27-14 victory over Albany State. The Golden Tigers have lost the past two meetings with WSSU (0-2)

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Alabama A&M at Prairie View A&M, 6 p.m.

After an early bye week, Alabama A&M (0-1, 0-0) opens play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference against Prairie View A&M (1-1, 1-0).

The Bulldogs lost to Cincinnati 52-10, then were off last week for what A&M coach James Spady called an “extended training camp.”

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Alabama State vs. Grambling State, 6 p.m.

Both teams are looking for their first victory of the season after 0-2 starts. ASU is coming off a 31-14 loss to defending SWAC champion Alcorn State, while Grambling was outscored 56-53 by Bethune-Cookman.

The Hornets have not started a season 0-3 since 2008. Last year’s team was 4-1 before a four-game losing streak led to the firing of head coach Reggie Barlow.

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Stillman at Albany State, 6 p.m.

This is the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for Stillman (1-1). The Tigers avoided an 0-2 start by scoring 16 fourth-quarter points in an 18-15 victory over Concordia last week.