HOUSTON, Texas &045; At this point last week not much looked good for a Texas Southern team that was just trying to find an opponent and a way to continue its season.

On Saturday afternoon some 300 miles away and in the midst of a 46-28 loss, the Tigers may have found something. They may have hit come across something they couldn’t get a whiff of during last season’s 0-11 campaign.

It’s a sense of confidence knowing this season will be continue and the team will be significantly improved.

The Tigers will host Alcorn Saturday in their first home game of the season and their first game on campus since 1994. And now they’re playing well following a competitive second half against McNeese State Saturday.

&8221;We felt it was best for our program to play,&8220; TSU head coach Steve Wilson said. &8221;It’s very hard to put together a young football team when you’re playing every other week. We thought playing that game far out-weighed any of the negatives. I don’t think you get better until you play better football teams and put yourself in a position to win against good football teams.&8220;

That was the case Saturday when the offense &045; a unit that scored only 79 points last year and was either shut out or held to one score in six games &045;&160;continued to blossom. Points are not as hard to come by this fall, thanks in part to freshman quarterback Daniel Millus and an offense that’s starting to mesh.

Things went from bad to worse to good against a good McNeese team Saturday. After falling behind 36-7 at the start of the second half, the Tigers out-scored McNeese 21-10 the rest of the way.

Millus threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

&8221;Before we knew it we were down 24-0 &045; which you don’t want to do with a young quarterback,&8220; Wilson said. &8221;We challenged our team to wake up. We were really proud of the way our team responded. Our quarterback got really hot, and we were within one touchdown of them. Just to see our football team fight and get back in position to win the football game &045;&160;they had put their second team in and had to put their starters back in.&8220;

The Tigers’ offense in four games topped its point total from last year, and the offense is showing signs of recovery. No longer are they at the bottom of offensive categories as they were last year and the start of this season.

The last two games the Tigers have gone with Milluns at quarterback, and things have clicked. He was at the helm when they went to Alabama A&M and pulled a 17-7 shocker.

&8221;We turned the corner a long time ago,&8220; Wilson said. &8221;Very few people played Alabama State (a 27-15 loss in Week 1) the way we played them. We had a chance to be a factore late in the game. We’ve won one game, but we’ve been in position to win most of them. Last year we weren’t in a position to win at all. When you settle your quarteback position, a lot of things come together.&8220;

It’s an offense that will match up against an Alcorn defense Saturday that’s had its share of struggles this season. Yet the Braves’ win over Prairie View came after the defense did a better job of stopping the run and coming up with a season-high four interceptions, including two by cornerback Quentin Sullivan.

The Tigers will throw on Saturday and use it to open up the run.

&8221;(Milluns) does things so fundamentally well he gives himself a chance to be successful,&8220; Wilson said. &8221;(We wanted) somebody who had extensive experience at going down the field in their high school offense. He had a tremendous, tremendous system in high school (in California). He throws the ball well downfield, and that’s something we haven’t had.&8220;

If it can open up the Braves’ defense, the pass will set up the run with Brent Wilson in the backfield. Wilson is the third-best rusher in the conference at 78 yards per game, and he put up 132 yards on 13 carries against McNeese.

Raymond Gilmore will also take handoffs as well.

&8221;The running game has been there all year,&8220; Wilson said. &8221;What happens without a passing game is people can load up to stop it. Brent has been the surprise of the year with his ability. He can find daylight and create daylight.&8220;