The News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana • Page 23

FOOTBALL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2008 3C A PREVIEW OF TODAY'S COLLEGE GAMES JACKSON STATE (1-2) AT GRAMBLING STATE (1-2) LiMf WWW.THENEWSSTAR.COM THE NEWS-STAR OO Fl 717 'sm ii ROBINSON MUSEUM Organizers plan a longawait-ed groundbreaking ceremony today for the proposed Eddie Robinson Museum. The event will be held at 2 p.m. at the former women's gymnasium on the Grambling campus where Robinson coached for nearly 60 years. The University of Louisiana System board approved a lease agreement in April with the Secretary of State's office to establish the museum at the gym. Bidding on retrofitting the facility began last week.

Staff report GAME INTRO Though they've attempted to downplay it, revenge will be on the mind of many Grambling players in this game. The teams split their meetings last season, but Jackson State won when it counted most, seizing a 42-31 victory in the SWAC championship game. Both teams are off to slow starts, and both are coming off losses. Grambling dropped a winnable game against Northwestern State last week, 31-19, while Jackson State lost to Tennessee State, 41-18. Ethan Conley of-30 pass attempts for 169 yards and a touchdown.

He also ran for a one-yard score. TOP MATCHUPS Grambling's defensive backs should be able to control the Jackson State passing game. JSU quarterbacks Trae Rutland and Michael Mosely have combined to complete just 53.5 percent of their passes, and have thrown six total interceptions. If JSU isn't careful with the ball, Grambling's experienced, aggressive secondary will force several turnovers, and possibly score a few defensive touchdowns. GET IN THE GAME Each of the last two games has produced a star performance from a GSU defensive back.

In a 29-0 vic SMALL STUFF WHEN: 6 p.m., Robinson Stadium (19,600) RADIO: KPCH 99.3 FM SERIES: Grambling leads, 36-21-1 LAST MEETING: 2007 Jackson State 42, Grambling State 31 COACHES: Grambling, Rod Broadway (second season, 9-6); Jackson State, Rick Comegy (15-11) KEYS TO VICTORY Grambling's run defense must play better than it did last week. Grambling gave up 170 net rushing yards against Northwestern State, and could not get a stop in the fourth quarter. Grambling also needs continued improvement at the quarterback position. J.P. Tillman took a major step in the right direction against Northwestern State, completing 15- tory over Alcorn State on Sept.

6, safety Jeffery Jack blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, while Bruna Foster intercepted two passes. Last week Foster hauled in another interception, and cornerback Kenneth Anio returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown. He also made 11 tackles. '08 IMPLICATIONS Grambling's players who are still bitter from last year's loss could do a lot of healing with a win over Jackson State. The win would also vault GSU into the SWAC season on a positive note.

The game won't count in the conference standings because of the quirky SWAC schedule, but Grambling could earn a little redemption for last year's championship game loss. NO. 6 LSU (2-0) AT NO. 10 AUBURN (3-0) I- GAME INTRO The barometer of LSU's football season, since the start of this decade, has been its game against Auburn. The Tigers defeated Auburn four times in that stretch.

And, during those four years, LSU has ended up representing the West in the Southeastern Conference title game LSU lost all three of its appearances this decade at Auburn and failed to reach the SEC championship in each of those years. LSU hasn't won at Auburn since 1998, but the defending national champions are favored to snap a four-game losing streak when the two teams expected to battle for the Southeastern Conference West Division title meet today. Associated Press start and redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee will also play. In LSU's first two games, Hatch has thrown for 202 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Lee has comparable numbers, passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

TOP MATCHUPS LSU faces a tough Auburn defense that has given up only 13 points in three games. Auburn shut out Mississippi State's offense in a 3-2 victory last Saturday. LSU wants to retain its balance. "Our football team is best when we can do both, run and pass," Miles said. GET IN THE GAME LSU will be without one of its best defensive players linebacker Darry Beckwith, who injured his left knee against North Texas.

Beckwith is expected to miss about three or four weeks. Jacob Cutrera will replace him in the starting lineup. Cutrera, a junior, made two starts a season ago when Beckwith was out with an injury. '08 IMPLICATIONS Prepare to watch through the fourth quarter, because these are usually tight affairs. LSU-Auburn has been one of the top games in college football the last few years.

The team that wins this one usually has the upper hand in getting to the conference championship. Last year Auburn was one play away from winning this game. "Had we not missed that last play we would have been in the conference championship game and they would not have been," Auburn's Tuberville said, "and that's how close this has been." Auburn was unimpressive in beating Mississippi State by a seldom-seen football score last week 3:2. LSU has wins over overmatched Appalachian State and North Texas. Michael DunlapThe News-Star ULM's Darrell McNeal grabbed eight passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama last week.

ULM (1-2) AT TULANE (0-2) SMALL STUFF WHEN: 6:45 p.m., Jordan Hare Stadium (87,451) TV: ESPN RADIO: 101.9 FM, 97.7 FMESPN SERIES: LSU leads 22-19-1 LAST MEETING: 2007 LSU 30, Auburn 24 COACHES: Auburn, Tommy Tuberville 83-33, 10th year; 108-53); LSU, Les Miles (36-6 4th year, 64-27 overall) LINE: LSU by 2 Vi GAME INTRO ULM and Tulane have met just once before in a series that started at Malone Stadium in 2002. On Oct. 5 of that year, Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-9 win. ULM made seven led to 28 points for the Green Wave.

Under Weatherbie, ULM has come a long way since the lean years of the early 2000s. This game against a solid Conference USA foe is another chance to prove that. "I see very physical up-front people, on offense and defense," Weatherbie said of Tulane. "I see a physical mentalitya smash-your face mentality. I see a team that runs well.

They're a team that looks like to me that can beat anyone on any given Saturday." 40 rushes. Frank Goodin gained 114 yards and scored a touchdown on 17 attempts. Tulane led Conference USA in run defense last year and is allowing just 77.5 yards a game on the ground. TOP MATCHUPS ULM must protect quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster so he can do his thing. Tulane leads the nation with nine sacks while ULM is still breaking in a new offensive line.

The Warhawks started Brett Thompson at center and Justin Roberts at guard last week In a pair of changes that seemed to pay dividends. GET IN THE GAME Tulane hasn't lost to a Louisiana school other than LSU since 1995. The Green Wave has won 11 games against Louisiana schools other than LSU. ULM is 1-4 in non-conference road games the past two seasons. The win was at Alabama.

Paul Letlow SMALL STUFF WHEN: 2:07 p.m., Superdome (69, 703) KEYS TO VICTORY LSU will try to dent Auburn's tight defense with a pair of quarterbacks who have never played in a college game on the road sophomore Andrew Hatch will Ml k.iWi mum) imu RADIO: 104.1 FM; TV: Cox Sports Television SERIES: Tulane leads 1-0 fx LAST MEETING: 2002 -Tulane won 52-9 COACHES: ULM, Charlie Weatherbie (sixth year, 22-39, 67-103 overall); Bob Toledo (4-10 2nd year, 82-78 overall) LINE: Tulane by 6 '08 IMPLICATIONS The Warhawks would love to score a win over an in-state team that it competes against on the recruiting trail. ULM could also even its record at 2-2, before an open date next week and the start of Sun Belt Conference play. in KS9T, SM li jp'-itoiinlmin i i 4 KEYS TO VICTORY ULM must continue to develop its running game. Last week was the best effort yet for the Warhawks, who gashed AP LSU quarterback Andrew Hatch is one of three LSU quarterbacks who may see action against Auburn. Alabama for 244 yards on SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (2-1) AT LOUISIANA TECH (1-1) GAME INTRO Tech had a bye last week, and hasn't played since its 29-0 loss at Kansas on Sept.

6. Southeastern Is 2-1, and beat South Dakota last week, 31-30. The teams share a common opponent. Tech opened Its season with a 22-14 upset victory over Mississippi State on Aug. 30, while Southeastern fell to MSU on Sept.

6, 34-10. Ethan Conley downs this season. A productive, efficient game against the Lions would be a big confidence booster for Bennett. '08 IMPLICATIONS This is one of the few games this season that should be a guaranteed for Tech. But the Bulldogs can't afford to be caught sleeping.

A win against Southeastern puts Tech won step closer to becoming bowl eligible, and gives it a 2-1 overall record heading Into conference play. Tech should be able to remedy its run game against the SLU defense. Southeastern allows 4.7 yards per carry and 158.7 yards per game. Look for the Tech offensive line to dominate the Southeastern defensive line. GET IN THE GAME Tech also needs to fix some problems in Its passing game.

Quarterback Taylor Bennett Is completing just 36.6 percent of his passes. Southeastern has given up 243 pass yards per game and six passing touch SMALL STUFF WHEN: 6 p.m., Joe Aillet Stadium (30,600) TV: Cox Sports Television RADIO: KXKZ 107.5-FM GAMETRACKER: latechsports. com SERIES: Tech leads, 27-7-2 LAST MEETING: 1985 Louisiana Tech 40, Southeastern Louisiana 7 COACHES: Tech, Derek Dooley (second season, 6-8 overall); SLU, Mike Lucas (5-12 overall) KEYS TO VICTORY Tech's talent outmatches Southeastern In just about every phase of the game. The Bulldogs' biggest concern Is rust. It's been a long time since Tech took the field, and may need a few series to get its focus back.

TOP MATCHUPS Tech has yet to get Its running game going this season. Running backs Patrick Jackson and Daniel Porter are averaging 2.7 and 2.2 yards per carry, respectively.