LORMAN — Tropical Storm Issac has exited Louisiana and the Port City Classic featuring Alcorn State and Grambling will go on as scheduled. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

The contest will mark the debut of Alcorn State coach Jay Hopson, who in May became the first white head coach in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Across the way will be former Washington Redskins’ winning Super Bowl quarterback Doug Williams, who returned to his alma mater for the second time in 2011 and led the Tigers to a SWAC title after starting 1-4.

The season opener represents a new beginning for Alcorn’s players who last year struggled to a 2-8 record under former coach Melvin Spears. Former Warren Central lineman David Henderson is thankful to get another shot at success.

“Coach Hopson has been great for us,” Henderson said. “He shows his passion for the game every day in practice. It’s been a very good learning experience for us. I feel like I’m so much better in my techniques when it comes to run and pass blocking.”

At 6-foot-8, 380 pounds, Henderson is Alcorn State’s largest player. He’s had an interesting ride through his college career. After finishing at Warren Central, he opted not to sign a football scholarship and instead enrolled as a student at Mississippi State.

A year off refueled his desire to play and he signed with Hinds Community College, where he started at right tackle in 2010. He was one of the first players signed by Spears when he took the Alcorn State job in 2011. He started nine games last season at tackle.

Henderson said he expects the Braves to be vastly improved in 2012 under Hopson and his staff.

“I feel great about the season,” Henderson said. “I feel we’ve turned 180 degrees around. We’ve become so much better about picking up blitzes and we’ve learned so much more about the game itself.”

For Hopson’s part, he’s struck by the maturity Henderson has shown since his high school days at Warren Central.

“He has grown up a lot since I started watching him,” said Hopson, who was at Southern Miss as Jeff Bower’s defensive coordinator when Henderson began playing for the Vikings. “He’s done a great job in preseason camp. His consistency has gotten better every day. We just want him to be physical and be in the right spot.”

As for his team and its opener against the defending SWAC champs, Hopson said the Braves made strides in its final full scrimmage on Aug. 18.

“We were a lot crisper on offense and that was very important, because that was our last big scrimmage until we play,” Hopson said. “We haven’t spent a whole lot of time on Grambling, we’ve been more concerned with us.”

Hopson said the key for the Braves will be defense.

“We’ve had good competition with our linebackers and I like all four of them,” Hopson said. “Our corners have shown a lot of speed and Casey Freeman has had a good camp and been a leader for us at safety. We’ve come on with our defensive front. Jermaine Turner has had a good camp. Terrence Green has done good things and Mauola Malaga has shown explosiveness at defensive end.”

Offensively, the Braves will be led by returning quarterback Darius Smith. They also have Arnold Walker back at tailback, but he was hurt for most of the preseason camp and Hopson expects former Madison Central star Joe Price to start against Grambling.

Williams’ big task for Grambling was rebuilding his defense after seven starters graduated. This included the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year Cliff Exama, who led the league in tackles.

The Tigers hope an experienced offense will offset their young defense.

Williams’ son, D.J. Williams, will start at quarterback. He passed for 1,100 yards and 14 TDs last season. Also back is the team’s leading rusher Dawrence Roberts, who had 1,102 yards and scored a touchdown in each of Grambling’s last seven wins to close the 2011 season.