Prairie View A&M University football team was one of the hottest teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) from September through the third week of October. They went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take on Southern University on October 23 and walked away with a 48-21 victory.

With a 6-1 record that included a five-game winning streak, the Panthers were in control of their destiny to win their division and make it to the SWAC Championship Game. Prairie View’s offense was humming along averaging, 27.5 points per game, which included an average of 16.4 points in the first half.

Head coach Eric Dooley had to be excited about the way his team was clicking on all cylinders through the first seven games of the season, but he was not happy about what his team was about to face headed into Week 8 of the 2021 season.

Although the Panthers had received their bye week during Week 5, they were about to be away from the field again for the second time within the same month. That was something that did not sit well with coach Dooley.

He spoke during his weekly press conference about the league's process and expressed concern about the team having to sit during a time when they were playing so well.

The third-year coach who arrived at Prairie View after four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Grambling State University was correct in his assessment of what could happen to his team's momentum as the Panthers struggled the final month of the season.

On their way to winning the SWAC Western Division title and securing a berth in the championship game against Jackson State University on December 4 at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, Prairie View has averaged a dismal 18.7 points per game and 6.5-point average in the first half of their last four games.

Their record during that stretch is a measly 1-3, including a three-game losing streak which is the longest of the season for the Panthers. They have also trailed at the half in all those games.

If Prairie View plans on winning their first SWAC Championship since 2009, they will have to jump-start their offense again starting with quarterback Jawon Pass who orchestrates the conference’s third-ranked offense that is averaging over 400 yards per game.

Pass, who transferred from Louisville, can keep plays alive with his mobility, but he isn’t looking to scramble, he is looking to make a play with his strong arm.

“Where he goes, we go,” said coach Dooley when asked about Pass. “He will be ready to go on Saturday. The things he does help us to be successful. His play is extremely important.”