LORMAN — After its first bye week of the season, Alcorn State is ready to get back to action.

Coach Ernest T. Jones said the Braves really needed the break before taking on the second-ranked team in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Prairie View A&M.

“It was very good to have that time to look at them and to be able to heal up some wounds,” Jones said. “We played without a break for 10 weeks straight, and we needed the rest. Everybody is healthy. (Quarterback Tim) Buckley has been getting hit around a bit lately, and it was a well-needed break.”

But the Braves (2-8, 1-4) do not get to ease back into play with two games left.

Prairie View A&M (8-1, 5-1) ranks in the SWAC’s top three in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category.

They’re ranked fourth in both the Sheridan Broadcast Network and BASN HBCU polls.

“They know they’ve got to win the football game to stay in contention to win the SWAC,” Jones said. “Coach (Henry) Frazier is a good coach. He’ll have his team ready to play.”

Frazier is in the running for 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, as the Panthers were off to their best start since 1964, 3-0 as of Sept. 27.

Jones said Frazier is the type of coach who rolls with the opponents’ punches.

“He won’t beat us up. He runs a very controlled football game,” Jones said. “He takes what you give him on offense and plays consistent on defense.

“We can’t make mistakes. That’s what they feed off of. When a team makes mistakes, they make them pay.”

Jones said the Braves will have to make all their tackles, especially on running back Donald Babers, who was the SWAC Offensive Player of the Week in weeks one and nine.

Quarterback Mark Spivey received the distinction in week four, and defensive back Anthony Beck, who was Defensive Player of the Week in week five, made six tackles and added two interceptions, including one for a 50-yard touchdown return, in a 24-10 win against Alabama A&M this past weekend.

“They run the ball well, they throw it well and they play defense well,” Jones said. “They don’t make mistakes.”

Alcorn State has had a rough season of last-minute losses, including its last game, where the Braves missed a game-winning, 47-yard field goal.

Jones has been pushing for his team to be in a position to win at the end of games, and he said he finally feels like they are ready to actually pull one out.

“When you lose five games in the last minute or the last play of the game, it starts to get old,” he said. “I think they’re tired of getting right there and not finishing. Our guys know they can compete in this league.

“It’s been a really, really good week of practice, and I expect it to be a good, competitive game.”