One of Jay Hopson’s cardinal rules of coaching is never to look at more than one game at a time. Winning championships is a goal, but he’s quick to point out that they’re not won in a single week.

Well, most of the time.

Hopson’s Alcorn State team will go on the road Saturday to face Alabama A&M, with a chance to clinch the Southwestern Athletic Conference Eastern Division championship.

Alcorn (7-2, 5-1 SWAC) has never won the division since the league went to its current format in 1999. It owns a two-game lead over Alabama A&M (4-5, 3-3) with three to play.

“It’s a big game, no question,” Hopson said. “This is a SWAC Eastern Division championship game. We don’t talk about it until it’s here, and it’s here.”

Alcorn has had an extra week to rest up for the game, with a bye following a 77-48 victory over Prairie View in its last outing.

It was one of the most impressive performances in a season full of them, but Hopson knows better than to let his team get too cocky.

Last season, Alcorn was in contention for the division title going into November, then suffered a stunning 19-18 home loss to an Alabama A&M team that finished 4-8.

The Braves finished a game behind Jackson State in the division, and would have made their first SWAC championship game appearance if not for the loss to Alabama A&M.

“They have our utmost respect,” Hopson said. “You don’t know until Saturday, but I think that does help us as far as our attention.”

This year, Alcorn seems to be a heavy favorite on paper. The Braves are No. 1 in the Football Championship Subdivision in scoring offense at 45.1 points per game, and lead the SWAC in scoring defense at 19.6 points per game. Alabama A&M is in the middle of the pack in the SWAC in both categories.

The Bulldogs do, however, have quarterback Chris Leachman. The redshirt junior made his first career start last week against Jackson State and was named the SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 18 of 28 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama A&M’s 25-14 win.

Two of the touchdowns went to tight end Jonathan Dorsey, who caught five passes for 116 yards.

“They’re a young football team that’s gotten better through the season,” Hopson said. “It’s a team that plays hard on both sides of the ball.”