The Alcorn State Braves (0-0,1-0) began the 2017 football season with the mindset of having to complete unfinished business from last season. Unfortunately the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Miles College Golden Bears (0-0,0-1) were the first victims of the new season as the season opener took place at Spinks-Casem Stadium at 6:00 pm in front of a very enthusiastic crowd who did not leave disappointed.
Alcorn began the first quarter with vigor as they got on the scoreboard first at the 8:42 mark with a 14 yard scamper into the end zone by Quarterback Lenorris Footman and with a successful point after attempt (PAT) by Kicker Corey McCullough the Braves were up 7-0. Footman scored again at the 2:15 mark when he scored on a 6 yard run and with a good McCullough extra point the score was now 14-0 Braves. With 2 minutes left in the first quarter the Golden Bears got on the scoreboard when Running back Justin Hardy scored on an 83 yard run and with kicker Nick Christiansen’s extra point the score was now 14-7, Braves.
The second quarter was all Braves as McCullough kicked a 45 yard field goal at the 7:48 mark to make the score 17-7, Braves. With only four seconds remaining in the second quarter Running back De’Lance Turner caught a 20 yard pass from Footman and trucked into the end zone and with a McCullough extra point the Braves led going into halftime 24-7.
The third quarter began with Miles College putting Alcorn on notice that they were not done fighting when Linebacker N’Ktavious Floyd intercepted a Footman pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown and with a Christiansen extra point the score was now 24-14, Braves. The Braves, not to be outdone, scored 30 seconds later at the 14:10 mark when Turner scored on a 88 yard run to pay dirt and with a McCullough extra point the score was 31-14, Braves. McCullough added more points to the Braves’ score when he kicked a 27 yard field goal at the 3:55 mark to make the score 34-14, Braves. Alcorn ended the third quarter with a bang when Wide receiver Marquis Warford scored on a 72 yard punt return at the 2:55 mark but with McCullough’s PAT being blocked the score was now 40-14, Braves.
The Golden Bears got on the board first in the fourth quarter for the final time when Wide receiver Leonard Tyree caught a 47 yard pass from Quarterback Li’Jon Cordier at the 14:48 mark and with a successful Christiansen extra point the score was now 40-21, Braves. Alcorn’s final touchdown of the quarter came at the 13:43 mark when Running back P.J. Simmons scored on a 64 yard run and with a McCullough extra point the score was 47-21, Braves. The final score of the fourth quarter came at the 6:53 mark when McCullough nailed a 26 yard field goal straight between the uprights making the score 50-21, Alcorn.
The Braves’ next contest will be on the road on September 9, 2017 against the Florida International University Panthers from Conference USA. The game will be played in University Park, Florida at FIU Stadium at 6:30 pm.