By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

The start of college football season is less than a week away and the Concordia College Hornets can taste it.

Concordia head football coach Shepherd Skanes said his team is anxious to play its first game of the season against the Jackson State Tigers Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Jackson, Miss.

“They’re eager to get to Jackson State and they’re ready to start playing,” Skanes said. “As a football player, this time of year you smell that football in the air. That rage, excitement and adrenaline goes through your body and you can’t wait to get on that field.”

Skanes said his team has looked good in Fall drills and looks ready to play, but that can be deceptive considering the only team they’ve played is themselves.

“We’re looking good against each other,” Skanes said.

“It’s kind of deceiving because of the simple fact that we’re going against each other so much. It’s hard to get a good look at them because the guys are tired of going against each other, but we look good and I think we’ve got a good chance.”

Skanes said his team is even across the board at each position, but the linebackers are the strongest group going into the first game of the season.

The Hornets will face a Tigers team that finished 8-3 last season and came within one win of appearing in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game.

The Tigers are led by senior quarterback Casey Therriault whose 31 touchdown passes last season tied a school record.

Skanes said the Hornets can’t make mistakes if they’re going to tame the Tigers.

“We’ve got to play mistake free football,” Skanes said.

“We can’t turn the ball over. We’ve got to win the takeaway battle. We’ve got to be perfect in every aspect of the game. We can’t afford to have flags and penalties.”