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Creative Director
November 17, 2001
Capital City Classic: Alcorn State vs. Jackson State Kent, Carrie in 'a shootout'
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Last year, a tall, strong-armed freshman from the Delta named Robert Kent took the reins at Jackson State and emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Another freshman quarterback, this one from New Orleans, has had similar success this year: Alcorn State's Donald Carrie.
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Alcorn (5-4) at JSU (6-3)
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 3 p.m. CST
TV: BET 6 p.m. (tape delayed)
Radio: JSU network, WOAD-AM 1300 in Jackson; Alcorn network, WMPR-FM 90.1 in Jackson
Carrie, a little-known commodity when the season started, ranks second in the SWAC in passing yards (2,223) and third in touchdowns (18) heading into today's Capital City Classic. He has completed 51.6 percent of his passes.
If those numbers sound familiar, they should. Kent threw for similar numbers last year: 2,510 yards, 27 touchdown passes, 49.8 completion percentage.
"He reminds me of myself last year," Kent said. "I really haven't had a chance to keep up with him that much, but I've caught a glimpse of the numbers he's put up."
The SWAC's top two young quarterbacks meet head-to-head for the first time today in front of what is expected to be a near-sellout crowd at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Mississippi Valley State coach LaTraia Jones, who faced each quarterback this season, said he would be in Jackson today if his Delta Devils weren't hosting Alabama State in Itta Bena.
"I would love to be there," Jones said. "Both of those guys are great quarterbacks. It's going to be a shootout at the OK Corral.
"Both of them have very strong arms, but they're two different quarterbacks. Kent's taller. . . . He's your typical drop-back quarterback. Carrie's shorter and on the stocky side. He reminds me a little bit of Daunte Culpepper. He's so strong. We had him sacked a couple of times, I'm talking in the grasp ready to go down, and he was still able to get the ball off."
Before the season, first-year Alcorn offensive coordinator John McKenzie predicted Carrie would put up numbers comparable to those Kent put up as a freshman. Many scoffed at the notion, especially after learning Carrie was a walk-on scout team tight end a year ago. Turns out, McKenzie was right.
"He's playing the way we expected him to and the way we needed him to," McKenzie said. "This kid is a natural. He and Kent are going to create some fireworks in this league the next few years."
Alcorn went 0-11 last season. This year the Braves have turned things around in large part because of Carrie. They come into today's game 5-4 overall, 4-1 in the SWAC and two wins away from a trip to the SWAC Championship Game.
"He's made a big difference," tight end Marcus Holbert said.
Carrie says he didn't come into this season trying to match Kent's freshman stats.
"It was nothing like that," he said. "I've just been playing within our system and trying to help this team win. I've really exceeded the goals I set for myself at the start of the season. Now I want to help lead us to the SWAC Championship Game. I know there's been a lot of talk about me and him. I'm going to try to block that out and play football."
That said, Carrie admits he wants "to show what I can do" today against the Tigers.
"They'll get a chance to see what I'm all about," Carrie said.
The same goes for Kent, who is going through somewhat of a sophomore slump after starting the season on fire. In JSU's first four games, Kent threw 18 touchdown passes and three interceptions. In the last five, he has thrown five touchdown passes and 15 interceptions.
"It's a combination of things," Kent said. "The injuries . . . I've been trying to do too much. But I'm looking to snap out of it against Alcorn. Hopefully, me and Carrie can give the fans a show."
Capital City Classic: Alcorn State vs. Jackson State Kent, Carrie in 'a shootout'
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Last year, a tall, strong-armed freshman from the Delta named Robert Kent took the reins at Jackson State and emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Another freshman quarterback, this one from New Orleans, has had similar success this year: Alcorn State's Donald Carrie.
/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alcorn (5-4) at JSU (6-3)
Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, 3 p.m. CST
TV: BET 6 p.m. (tape delayed)
Radio: JSU network, WOAD-AM 1300 in Jackson; Alcorn network, WMPR-FM 90.1 in Jackson
Carrie, a little-known commodity when the season started, ranks second in the SWAC in passing yards (2,223) and third in touchdowns (18) heading into today's Capital City Classic. He has completed 51.6 percent of his passes.
If those numbers sound familiar, they should. Kent threw for similar numbers last year: 2,510 yards, 27 touchdown passes, 49.8 completion percentage.
"He reminds me of myself last year," Kent said. "I really haven't had a chance to keep up with him that much, but I've caught a glimpse of the numbers he's put up."
The SWAC's top two young quarterbacks meet head-to-head for the first time today in front of what is expected to be a near-sellout crowd at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Mississippi Valley State coach LaTraia Jones, who faced each quarterback this season, said he would be in Jackson today if his Delta Devils weren't hosting Alabama State in Itta Bena.
"I would love to be there," Jones said. "Both of those guys are great quarterbacks. It's going to be a shootout at the OK Corral.
"Both of them have very strong arms, but they're two different quarterbacks. Kent's taller. . . . He's your typical drop-back quarterback. Carrie's shorter and on the stocky side. He reminds me a little bit of Daunte Culpepper. He's so strong. We had him sacked a couple of times, I'm talking in the grasp ready to go down, and he was still able to get the ball off."
Before the season, first-year Alcorn offensive coordinator John McKenzie predicted Carrie would put up numbers comparable to those Kent put up as a freshman. Many scoffed at the notion, especially after learning Carrie was a walk-on scout team tight end a year ago. Turns out, McKenzie was right.
"He's playing the way we expected him to and the way we needed him to," McKenzie said. "This kid is a natural. He and Kent are going to create some fireworks in this league the next few years."
Alcorn went 0-11 last season. This year the Braves have turned things around in large part because of Carrie. They come into today's game 5-4 overall, 4-1 in the SWAC and two wins away from a trip to the SWAC Championship Game.
"He's made a big difference," tight end Marcus Holbert said.
Carrie says he didn't come into this season trying to match Kent's freshman stats.
"It was nothing like that," he said. "I've just been playing within our system and trying to help this team win. I've really exceeded the goals I set for myself at the start of the season. Now I want to help lead us to the SWAC Championship Game. I know there's been a lot of talk about me and him. I'm going to try to block that out and play football."
That said, Carrie admits he wants "to show what I can do" today against the Tigers.
"They'll get a chance to see what I'm all about," Carrie said.
The same goes for Kent, who is going through somewhat of a sophomore slump after starting the season on fire. In JSU's first four games, Kent threw 18 touchdown passes and three interceptions. In the last five, he has thrown five touchdown passes and 15 interceptions.
"It's a combination of things," Kent said. "The injuries . . . I've been trying to do too much. But I'm looking to snap out of it against Alcorn. Hopefully, me and Carrie can give the fans a show."