GRAMBLING, La. — Grambling State University football coach Doug Williams realizes things won't get any easier in game two of the 2011 season.

 

Williams' Tigers took a 21-14 win over Alcorn State to open the season at the Port City Classic in Shreveport last weekend. Next up for GSU is a FBS-opponent as the Tigers travel east down Interstate 20 to Monroe, La. to face Louisiana-Monroe in a 6 p.m. contest at Malone Stadium.

ULM lost 34-0 last week at Florida State, which is ranked No. 4 in this week's Coaches poll and No. 5 in the AP poll.

 

GSU's head coach is hoping the Tigers can carry over the confidence gained in winning a season opener with a freshman quarterback under center as they did with D.J. Williams against Alcorn State.

 

“Anytime you can get off to that kind of start and win your first game, especially in those conditions, we had to play and going against a great quarterback, the team showed a lot of character to walk away with a victory,” Williams said.

 

“They showed a lot of heart and never gave up. We got hit in the mouth early but then we were able to score 21 unanswered points and get the win. This week we're going against a more formidable opponent — a team that's coming off a loss to a Top 10 team in the country and BCS. When you watch the tape, you see a pretty good football (in Louisiana-Monroe). I think any coach in the country would like to have 19 starters returning like they do. That tells you our work is cut out for us. They have an offense that can break loose at any time and a great defense that can create havoc. We're going to prepare for ULM and hopefully we'll find a way to come out on top. “

 

Williams said he hopes Grambling's defensive line can produce the same kind of pressure against ULM that they did against Alcorn State signal caller Brandon Bridge.

 

“I talked to (Alcorn State) Coach (Melvin) Spears and the first thing he said was 'Your front four got after us,' Williams said. “And we missed two or three other sacks that we had a chance to bring him down. Even the last touchdown, we had a big sack if Trey Williams finishes him off and tackles him for a 12- or 13-yard loss. But (Bridge) got away. He's got some magic in him and I'm glad we got away with the win.

 

Williams expects ULM's defense to try and pressure and confuse his young quarterback.

“(ULM's) 3-3-5 will create havoc the way (Alcorn defensive coordinator Michael) Roach did against us,” Williams said. “I think  (the Braves) put as much pressure on D.J. as they could and we would have done the same thing.  The 3-3-5 shows you some different looks and they try to funnel people inside and create a lot of traffic. The thing ULM does extremely well is stop the run.”

 

That means GSU will have to get the most of their running back corps, including 5-7. 265-pound senior Kenneth Batiste, who led the Tigers against Alcorn State with 83 yards on 19 attempts, including a five-yard scoring scamper.

“You have to give (Batiste) some kudos,” Williams said. “I really didn't know he had 83 yards until the game was over. I guess I was busy watching other stuff. But at the end of the day, he was a vital part of our success on Saturday and hopefully we can find a way where he can duplicate the same thing (against ULM).”

 

Senior Van Phillips led GSU receivers in the opener with five catches for 64 yards while Mario Lewis added four for 35 yards and a touchdown. Bakari Maxwell had GSU's other score on a 23-yard pass late in the second quarter and totaled two receptions for 44 yards.

 

“Van ought to be happy, huh?” Williams said with a laugh. “He had a season in one game. You know, the guy I think made the biggest catch of the night was probably Bakari (Maxwell). When he went up and grabbed the ball at its highest point for the touchdown — that to me was the biggest catch.”