Nothing is better than a little home cooking and that’s what the Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (1-1, 0-0) were counting on when they took on the Division 2 Gulf South Conference team of the Mississippi College Choctaws (0-1, 0-0) in the first home game of the 2019 season at Spinks-Casem Stadium on Saturday, September 7th at 6:00 pm.
The Braves rebounded perfectly against the Choctaws and it began in the first quarter when ASU got on the scoreboard first at the 8:44 mark when Running Back Niko Duffy scored on a 29-yard touchdown and with Kicker Corey McCullough’s extra point the score was 7-0, Braves. ASU continued their scoring attack 2 minutes and 12 seconds later when Running Back Jonathon Bolton scored on a 2-yard thrust into the end zone and with a McCullough PAT (Point After Attempt) the score was 14-0, Braves. Alcorn seemed as though they had something to prove when Duffy scampered 45-yards to score yet again at the 2:18 mark and with a McCullough extra point the Braves ended the first quarter with a 21-0 lead.
Alcorn slowed its offensive juggernaut to only one score in the second quarter when Running Back De’Shawn Waller punched in a score at the 6:39 mark on a 22-yard run and with a McCullough PAT the score was 28-0 at the half.
ASU once again played conservatively producing the only score of the third quarter at the 11:11 mark when McCullough booted a 39-yard field goal to make the score 31-0, Braves.
By the beginning of the fourth quarter Alcorn was on cruise control offensively. ASU scored at the 13:07 mark when Quarterback Noah Johnson scored on a 3-yard run to pay dirt and with a McCullough extra point the score was 38-0, Braves. Alcorn’s final score of the contest came at the 7:19 mark when Duffy caught a 26-yard pass from Johnson and with another McCullough PAT the score was now 45-0, Braves. The Choctaws finally got on the scoreboard with 2 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in the game when Wide Receiver Rondell Cole caught a 10-yard pass from Quarterback DeAnte’ Smith-Moore and with Kicker Drake McCarter’s extra point the final score was 45-7, Braves.
The Braves’ offense was spectacular this week with Noah Johnson completing 15 passes for 132-yards and 1 touchdown. The Running Backs were the true stars of the team with Niko Duffy rushing for 138-yards and 2 touchdowns, De’Shawn Waller rushing for 71-yards and 1 touchdown and Kevon Marsh rushing for 70-yards. Not to be forgotten, the Defense only allowed 7 points in 4 quarters of play with Defensive Lineman Darrell Henderson leading in tackles with 7, and Defensive Back Qwynnterrio Cole had 6.
The Braves will be on the road for their next contest on Saturday, September 14th at 6:00 pm when they take on the Southland Conference’s team of the McNeese State Cowboys (1-1, 0-0) at Cowboy Stadium.