LORMAN &045; Alcorn’s explosive wide receiver tandem of Nate Hughes and Charlie Spiller started the season off with a bang, but then something happened.

Actually, a number of things happened.

The receivers who made a huge splash last year as freshmen had their production go down a bit, and defenses were able to do a better job this time around to prepare for them. Yet when the passing game lit it up against Southern for over 300 yards for the first time this season, there they were again.

Hughes and Spiller each logged over 100 yards receiving, and things were rolling just as they had planned. They’ll hope to do it again Saturday at Southeastern Louisiana.

&uot;Last week we got together and watched a ton of film,&uot; said Spiller, who had 131 yards receiving and two touchdowns as he continues to be on the Conerly Trophy watch list. &uot;We watched the defense, got with the quarterback and found the open areas. After that (Grambling) game, we stopped watching film. We weren’t practicing like we should. Last week we watched film like we should have and practiced like we play.&uot;

The Southern game was the first time both cracked the century mark since combining to put 212 yards receiving on Grambling in the season opener. Since then it’s been hit and miss with an offense that was hot and cold with an offensive line that was going through growing pains and opposing defenses who were not giving the Braves’ rushing attack much respect.

Since that Grambling game Spiller’s 121 yards on six catches against North Carolina A&T was the only time either of the two got over 100 yards, and that was the game after Grambling.

&uot;If me and him are on the same side, they’ll put three on us,&uot; Hughes said. &uot;Just a bunch of different coverages. We’re just having to work harder to get open, and the other guy will have big games.&uot;

Spiller finished the Southern game with two touchdowns, including a huge 61-yard TD pass from Carrie in the fourth quarter, but it may have been Hughes who had the bigger game. He had season-highs in both yards and catches, but he was most noted for his yards after the catch Saturday against the Jaguars.

He finished with 131 yards receiving.

&uot;Nate had a really outstanding game and caught the ball very well,&uot; Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. &uot;This guy is a very talented receiver and a very talented athlete. He ran the ball well after the catch. He ran return punts, although we haven’t let him. Hhe could play quarterback or defensive back.

&uot;He’s only a sophomore, and he’s on an academic scholarship. He’s got over a 3.5 GPA and is pre-med.&uot;

The offense was able to click on Saturday enough where Hughes was able to create his own opportunities. Hughes credited much of it to the blocking up field, and he had three key catches of 9, 12 and 9 yards during a third-quarter drive that set up a field goal that put the Braves up 13-9.

&uot;I’m trying to do the best I can every game,&uot; Hughes said. &uot;Our whole team is focused around our quarterback. When (Carrie) throws for 300 yards, we’ll have one or two people with 100 yards. When he comes to play, we come to play. He’s basically the coach on the field, and he knows what to do in certain situations.&uot;

Carrie hit Spiller on that huge touchdown pass, and it was enough for everyone at Jack Spinks Stadium to be convinced that another Alcorn possession could have resulted in that again.

It was the second straight week the two connected on a touchdown. Carrie hit Spiller on a 70-yard touchdown pass against Texas Southern.

&uot;I always tell him he can’t out-run my arm, and he tells me I can’t out-throw him,&uot; Carrie said. &uot;It was the right call at the right time.&uot;

The two have the momentum going into Saturday’s game against Southeastern Louisiana, a team Hughes sort of had his breakout game last year. As a lanky freshman, Hughes burned the Lions for 158 yards on four catches, three of which were touchdowns.

&uot;Both of their receivers are great players,&uot; SLU head coach Hal Mumme said. &uot;They really hurt us last year. They had the big catch at the end of the game. It’s a huge test for us. It’s going to be a great ball game for the fans to watch.&uot;

Yet if there’s anything Hughes has learned in his second season out of Starkville High School, it’s that college coaches have steel traps for memories. The Lions will likely key on the two receivers big time in the hopes of making the Braves beat them with the run or with secondary receivers Kelvin Clark, Marcus McFarland or tight end Johnny Washington.

&uot;I know they’ll be out to get us this year,&uot; Hughes said. &uot;I kind of hurt them, and they didn’t know about me last year. They knew about Corvin Johnson, and me and Spiller showed up last year.&uot;

Yet if they do, Spiller admitted, it won’t be anything new.

&uot;They’re going to be out for me and Nate,&uot; he said. &uot;He scored three, and I scored one. He made the game-winner. We know they’ll be out to get us. We’ve been seeing that the whole year &045; double or triple coverage. This week I think our running game will really be up with them looking and me and Nate. Hopefully we’ll get open.&uot;