Alcorn State doesn’t look in the rearview mirror and charges ahead with a new attitude every week.

Saturday, the Braves (6-3, 5-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) take on Alabama A&M (2-7, 2-5) in another tough SWAC matchup at Spinks-Casem Stadium. An Alcorn victory will give it back-to-back conference championships under coach Jay Hopson, but its focus remains steadfast.

“That’s why you play the game, to have the opportunity to compete for championships,” Hopson said. “It’s a goal of ours but we understand we have to play 60 minutes of football to achieve that. Our focus is on A&M and that’s all we can focus on.”

Bulldogs’ coach James Spady is ready to go against the Braves. In his SWAC teleconference comments this week, he commended the Braves’ coaching staff for their well-mannered structure and decorum on the field.

“Alcorn’s a really good football team,” Spady said. “Coach Hopson and his group are quite well organized. They have things in place where they’re able to just keep one foot in front of the other and keep it moving. We would love to be at that stage.”

Spady added that playing against Alcorn would be a challenge.

“We’re going to have to face a team that won the conference championship and is in line to play for another conference championship this year. We’re going to have to play our best game to beat them,” Spady said.

Hopson said the Bulldogs have athletic and talented guys on their offense, and defensively their players fly around making for a good, physical opponent on Saturday.

Junior quarterback De’Angelo Ballard has thrown for more than 1,200 yards this season, but has only completed 44 percent of his passes. Tevin McKenzie leads the Bulldogs in receiving with 361 yards and two touchdowns.

Alcorn isn’t changing what has been successful this year. They’ll continue to work on running the ball against a team that has allowed 217 rushing yards per game. The Braves might also find success in the air as the Bulldogs allow 277 passing yards per game.

Backup quarterback Lenorris Footman, who has started the last two games in place of the injured John Gibbs, Jr., accounted for 260 total yards and four touchdowns last week in a 65-13 win over Texas Southern. Footman was named the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.

“We prepare the same each week and do what we do, and get ready for a tough opponent coming into town so we have to have our A-game ready,” Hopson said.

The game against Alabama A&M is also the final home contest of the season and the last time Alcorn’s seniors will take the field at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

“It’s always a big thing,” Hopson said. “It’s our senior day and certainly with these guys we want to do our best to send them out on a winning note.”

Alabama A&M at Alcorn State

Saturday, 2:30 p.m.

Radio: 91.7 and 90.1 FM