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When Jackson State opened the season with two consecutive losses to Delta State and Tennessee State, it looked like it would be a rough year for one of the SWAC's storied football programs. However, the Tigers have bounced back in a huge way with three straight wins over Texas Southern, Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State.

Jackson State head coach Rick Comegy feels his team has improved greatly since the first two weeks of the season.

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"We started off playing two good football teams," Comegy said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to get by them, but I think we've grown from those losses and became a better football team.

"Our kids became a team we've always wanted since we got here. We came in here with a lot of different people from all over the place. I don't think we actually felt Jackson State as Jackson State football. I think after a year and four games we finally put together a team when they put on their colors they like playing for Jackson State. They feel like they believe in what they're doing."

This is Comegy's second year with the Tigers after coming over from Tuskegee University where he was one of the best Division II coaches in the nation. So, he's still putting his system in place. Now, the Tigers seem to be taking shape on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Jackson State quarterback Jimmy Oliver and running back Erik Haw have been key players for them. Oliver hasn't produced great numbers as the Tigers' signal caller. He has completed 45-of-86 passes for 628 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. But he knows how to win games. He has made some big plays in this successful run.

Haw has been Jackson State's most consistent player on offense. In fact, he was named the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week for his three-touchdown, 159 rushing yard performance in Jackson State's 32-20 victory over Alabama State last week.

On defense, the Tigers are led by defensive back Malcolm Palmer (38 total tackles, 26 solo, 2 sacks and 2 interceptions), linebacker Marcellus Speaks (35 total tackles, 18 solo, 2 sacks) and defensive end Marcus Benard (25 total tackles, 17 solo, 4 sacks).

Jackson State (3-2 overall, 3-0 league) will travel to Baton Rouge to face Southern (5-1 overall, 3-1 league) at A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday. The Jaguars had their homecoming spoiled by Alabama A&M losing 33-28 last week. Comegy expects a major battle in this heated conference rivalry on the road in front of a sellout of 24,600.

"Coach [Pete Richardson, Southern head coach] does a great job with that team down there," Comegy said. "He has great size and speed. They're well-coached. We know our hands are full. We look forward to the challenge."

• Jackson State and Southern won't be the only black college football game on the radar. Norfolk State (4-1 overall, 3-0 league) will host Hampton (4-1 overall, 3-1 league) in the Battle of the Bay on Saturday at Dick Price Stadium. The Spartans grabbed a lot of attention defeating preseason MEAC favorite South Carolina State, 20-13 last week at home.

"It was the best game we've played since I've been here," said Norfolk State head coach Pete Adrian. "We played a complete game on both sides of the ball. There were two good football teams out there and it could have gone either way, but we made the plays at the end."

The American Sports Wire has released its latest black college football rankings in this order:

1. Delaware State (4-1)
2. Hampton (4-1)
3. Norfolk State (4-1)
4. Alabama A&M (5-1)
5. Southern (5-1)
6. Grambling State (4-1)
7. Jackson State (3-2)
8. Alabama State (4-2)
9. North Carolina Central (4-2)
10. Winston-Salem State (3-3)

• Morgan State senior running back Chad Simpson was selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week. Simpson had a 181 yard rushing performance and two TDs to lead the Bears to a 22-19 victory over North Carolina A&T. Simpson currently ranks fifth in the nation among Division I Football Championship Subdivision, averaging 163.2 yards per game. He leads MEAC in rushing with 1,037 yards.

• Hampton's Sam Pope and Florida A&M's Michael McMillian earned MEAC co-Defensive Players of the Week. Pope, a defensive back, recorded four tackles, three solo, and one tackle for loss. He also posted two interceptions for a total of 96 yards and one TD along with a forced fumble in the Pirates nonconference win over Princeton.

McMillian, a linebacker, recorded a career-high 12 tackles, all solo, with five tackles for loss of 17 yards in the Circle City Classic. He also posted two sacks for a seven-yard loss.

• Grambling State defensive back Jeffrey Jack was named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week. Jack tallied nine tackles (six solo) along with two sacks and two tackles for loss in Grambling State's victory over Mississippi Valley State.

• South Carolina State will celebrate its centennial year with the selection of the school's top 100 players. Some of the notables expected to be included on the list are Marion Motley, Deacon Jones, Harry Carson, Donnie Shell, John Gilliam, Robert Porcher, Edwin Bailey, Barney Chavous and Alex Gardner. There will be a big ceremony on November 10 when South Carolina State hosts Morgan State. At that time, the entire list will be released.

• Delaware State punter Josh Bright displayed a strong foot against Bethune-Cookman. Bright averaged 46.2 yards a punt while totaling of 277 yards. • Morgan State offensive tackle James Key helped the Bears paved the way for a season high 453 yards, 322 on the ground.

Donald Hunt is a columnist for The Philadelphia Tribune.