Jacksonville State Football Weekly Press Conference
November 26, 2018
Maine Week – Second Round of 2018 FCS Playoffs
 
Head Coach John Grass 
Opening Comments:
"We are fortunate to still be playing this week and it was a good playoff win.  It was a great environment and you worry some with it being Thanksgiving weekend and it was a great crowd.  There was a lot of energy out there and it felt like a packed house and on their feet a lot in the game.  I thought we played well enough to win the game and I didn't think we played our very best game, but I think East Tennessee State had something to do with that.  I think Coach Sanders had them ready to play and they are a good football team.  They played well in the first half and we had the two turnovers in the first half and then being down 10 points in the third quarter, we set the tempo in that quarter and that is something that we talked all week about.  We got back in the gamer and took control of the game and did enough to win the game.  There were a lot of plays made on both sides and we did a getting the game over with the turnover."
 
"You move on to this week and with the playoffs, you don't have time to dwell on a win because you have to play the next week.  Maine has been sitting there waiting on us for a week and I am sure they worked on both opponents last week, so they are ahead on preparations. It is a long road trip and they have a quality team and won the CAA, which is a really good football league. They play great defense and a ball control offense. The quarterback is really good and some receivers that are really good so we have our work cut out for us. We are looking forward to playing this week."
 
On the Maine defense:
"The front seven in really good and the defensive line has some guys that can really play and the linebackers are good. They have one of the best cornerbacks in their league. They do a good job of tackling and they make it difficult for you to run the ball. We have to try to create ways to run the football and then we are going to have to be able to throw the ball." 
 
On Jaelen Greene:
"He has been playing really consistent. I think that is just growth and him playing behind our offensive line."
 
 
Connor Christian
R-Sr., Defensive Line   
On Jaelen Greene:
"He is real shifty in the backfield and you have to stay in your gap and you commit to that gap, but with him he can bounce out of that gap. He can run over people and he is very quick." 
 
On Maine :
"I am looking forward to seeing how our team prepares for this game and having great practices this week before making the trip to Maine. I don't know if anyone has been that far north before. I know we will give our best."
 
Tre' Threat
Jr., Defensive End
On Maine
"I am excited to see what they are going to do just like I was excited last week. It is the most important game and they are a really good team and they are really good up front."
 
On his game against East Tennessee State :
It was something special and we wanted to initiate a big third quarter coming out of the half. I got a big sack right before halftime and it was a big energizer for us going in to halftime. I felt like we had more energy in the second half. I wanted to make a play and be that spark plug to set the tone for the rest of the game."
 
Jaelen Greene
So., Running Back
On his game against East Tennessee State
"Earlier in the season I was shying away from my physicality and I knew that I had to bring it out more in the playoffs. You have to play your best ball this time of the year."