Bulldogs Hang Hats on QB's Experience

Alabama A&M quarterback Deaunte Mason isn’t one of those signal-callers with eye-popping statistics, blinding speed, Houdini-like ability to avoid tacklers or a cannon for a throwing arm. However, no active SWAC quarterback has won more games or has more experience than he, and the Bulldogs, who kickoff their the conference portion of their schedule Saturday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, understand their championship hopes revolve around his play.

The Bulldogs, who open their SWAC schedule on the road at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday, are counting on Mason and his experience and knack for winning to be the foundation for a championship season. The game is the headlines the conference schedule as the SWAC-TV feature game of the week.

Mason is 13-10 as the Bulldogs’ starter since taking over the first-string job as a redshirt freshman. He has led them to appearances in the SWAC Championship Game two of the last three years, including last season. Even though defense and the running game are traditionally at the heart of Alabama A&M success, since Anthony Jones has been coach, Mason’s experience is something of a security blanket for Jones.

“It makes my job a lot easier,’’ Jones says of having a quarterback with Mason’s experience, adding that “he’s a coach on the field. Guys look to him for leadership. , who calls Mason a coach on the field. “Guys look to him for leadership. It’s truly, truly a blessing to have that.’’

Mason relishes his role with the Bulldogs. He is not a fiery, rah-rah type who gets in his teammates’ face. But he is able to push the right buttons at the right time to get them in gear when it’s called for.

“I’m more laid back,’’ he says. “If I have something to say, I think they will listen. If I have to address the team, I’m not afraid to do that. That’s part of being a leader.’’

“He's our man,’’ Alabama A&M offensive lineman Jamaal Johnson-Webb told The Huntsville Times days before the Bulldogs’ game against Tuskegee.

Mason, a 6-3, 233-pound redshirt senior, is a self-described dual threat quarterback who thinks pass before run. He sees himself as being in the mode of Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rogers, a pair of Super Bowl MVPs who use their mobility to extend plays.

“I try to be smart and patient,’’ he says. “I know bow to read defenses. I pretty much take what they give me.’’

Mason has passed for 4,096 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed 1,247 yards since transferring from the University of Kentucky and taking over as the starter in the seventh game of his season. The 2012 first-team preseason All-SWAC pick was 18-for-28 and threw for 171 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs; season-opening victory against Tuskegee last week. The performance was indicative of what Mason is all about. It wasn’t scintillating, but he did what needed to be done to win the game.

“Spotty’’ is how Jones described Mason’s play.

“I thought he did some good things, some real good things,’’ Jones says, “and I thought he missed a few things. He had an opportunity to throw for more than 300 yards, be had some overthrows. I thought he had a good game. I wouldn’t call it a great game. He made some things happen.’’

Arkansas-Pine Bluff coach Monte Coleman isn’t one to argue about Mason’s ability to make things happen. Coleman experienced it up close and personal last season when Mason rallied Alabama A&M from a 27-7 fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Golden Lions 28-27.

Mason threw three of his four touchdown passes in the final period, including the game-winner with 57 seconds left. The score culminated a 76-yard drive that took 6:11 off the clock and put the finishing touch on a typical game for Mason. He passed for 192 yards and rushed for 73 more, stats that won’t stop you in your tracks. But they were good enough for the Bulldogs to win.

“I think he’s a very smart quarterback,’’ Coleman says. “He knows where to throw the football. He’s one that you want to have because he’s not going to make mistakes. He’s a seasoned veteran. With the supporting cast that he has, he has a lot of weapons. With the coaching staff they have, it makes him even better.’’

Coleman recalls a fourth-quarter play in the Bulldogs’ victory last year that typifies what Mason is all about.

On fourth down in the red zone, Mason dropped back to pass. The Bulldogs’ coverage was airtight, and Mason couldn’t find a receiver. Unfazed, he pulled the ball down and ran for a first down. Alabama A&M went on to score, and we all know the rest of the story.

“That’s the type of quarterback he is,’’ Coleman says. “He manages the game. You want a quarterback that’s able to manage the game. He’s not going to make the mistakes, but he takes what the defense gives him, and he’s a very good at that.’’

Without that play, the Bulldogs probably would have lost that game, and they lost that game, they probably wouldn’t have reached the SWAC Championship Game.

The Bulldogs all are itching for a return trip to the championship game, none more than Mason who is 0-for-2 when playing for the conference title. Their goal is to win the conference and Black College National Championships.

“That motivates me every week,’’ he says. “I had a lot of success early going to the championship game my first. I took it for granted. I got hurt my second year, and that humbled me. It made me a humble person.’’

Mason had the best statistical year last season with career highs in yards passing (1,996), passing touchdowns (11) and yards rushing (512), and he started all 12 games. His leadership skills were put to the test when Alabama A&M got off to an 0-2 start. He rallied the Bulldogs to eight wins in their last nine games, including seven straight at one point, en route to the championship game.

Jones expects even more from Mason this season.

“He's a much wiser player and a more mature person now,’’ Jones said. “If everybody around him has improved their game, then you'll see improvement in his game or he'll help elevate some people's games. If he does that, that's when you start looking at people as MVPs – not only on the team, but throughout the league. Can he elevate the people around him? That remains to be seen.’’

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