The Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (4-2, 3-0), fresh off of a Homecoming win, looked to increase their Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) win total by beating the Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) Delta Devils (2-4, 1-2) on October 16th at 3:00 pm in Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, Mississippi. The Delta Devils, coming off of a 2 game winning streak, were poised to play the spoiler role.
Alcorn jumped on the score board first when quarterback Felix Harper hit his “go to guy”, wide receiver LaCharles Pringle with a 15-yard touchdown strike at the 2:56 mark and with kicker’s Noah Kiani’s extra point the score was 7-0, Braves.
MVSU answered early in the second quarter at the 14:56 mark when kicker Orlando Fernandez nailed a 41-yard field goal to make the score 7-3, Braves. ASU answered at the 9:53 mark when Harper rushed 28-yards to pay dirt and with Kiani’s Point After Attempt (PAT) the score was now 14-3. The Delta Devils had a never say die attitude throughout the contest as Fernandez kicked a 40-yard field goal at the 9 second mark to make the score 14-6, Braves, right before halftime.
The Braves opened up the third quarter on a positive note when Kiana hit a 24-yard field goal at the 9:36 mark to make the score 17-6, Braves. Valley responded at the 3:51 mark when Fernandez put a 50-yarder right between the goal posts to make the score 17-9, Braves.
The fourth quarter proved exciting as MVSU made a game out of it when Fernandez kicked yet another field goal, this time a 35-yarder at the 11:36 mark to make the score 17-12, Braves. Alcorn, sensing that they needed to put the nail in the coffin, wrapped up the game at the 3:39 mark when running back Niko Duffy scored on a 16-yard run and with Kiani’s extra point the final score of the game was 24-12, Braves.
Statistical leaders for the Braves were Harper who was 15 for 25 for 145 yards and 1 touchdown, Duffey who had 138 yards on 18 carries and 1 touchdown and Pringle who had 6 receptions for 55 yards and 1 touchdown.
Alcorn’s next opponent will be the Texas Southern Tigers (1-4, 1-2) at BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas at 7:00 pm on October 23rd.
