The Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (6-3 5-1) knew going into Saturday, November 4th’s matchup at Spinks-Casem Stadium at 2:00 pm against the Southern University (SU) Jaguars (5-4 4-2) that it would be a pivotal game for the lead in the Western Division for the Southwestern Atlantic Conference (SWAC). So, the Braves put on their big boy britches and went to work.
The entire first quarter was dominated by Alcorn but SU got on the score board first at the 10:53 mark Running Back Kendric Rhymes scored on a 1-yard run and with Kicker Joshua Griffin’s extra point the score was 7-0, Jags. The Braves responded to that with a score of their own at the 6:08 mark when Kicker Noah Kiani nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 7-3, Jags. Alcorn then went on a tear scoring at the 3:11 mark when Wide Receiver Monterio Hunt caught a 35-yard pass from Quarterback Aaron Allen and with Kiani’s extra point the score was now 7-10, Braves. Alcorn continued its scoring prowess when at the 2:54 mark Defensive Lineman Keenan Leachman recovered a fumble and returned it 27-yards for the score and with a successful Kiani extra point the score was now 7-17, Braves. Alcorn continued their offensive onslaught when with 18 seconds left in the quarter Wide Receiver Malik Rodgers caught an 8-yard pass from Allen and with another Kiani extra point the score was now 7-24, Braves.
The second quarter saw the Braves continue to be dominate as they scored at the 10:09 mark when Wide Receiver Tavarious Griffin caught a 52-yard pass from Allen and with Kiani’s extra point the score was 7-31, Braves. Southern finally mustered together a score at the 2:53 mark when Wide Receiver Chandler Whitfield caught a 38-yard pass from Quarterback Harold Blood and with Griffin’s extra kick the score was 14-31, Braves. To stop any momentum SU may have been developing, ASU scored with 1 second remaining before the half when Kiani nailed a 19-yard field goal making the score 14-34, Braves.
Alcorn had the only score in the third quarter when this time Leachman intercepted a Blood pass and ran it back 88-yards to paydirt and with Kiani’s extra point the score was now 14-41, Braves.
The fourth quarter was just window dressing at this point when the Jags scored at the 13:56 mark when Wide Receiver August Pitre III scored off of a 24-yard pass from Blood and with Griffin’s successful extra point the score was now 21-41, Braves. Alcorn put the final nail in the coffin at the 8:08 mark when Kiani kicked a 37-yard field goal to end the game with a final score of 21-44. With the victory the Braves and sitting atop the Western Division.
Statistical leaders had Allen with 19 completions for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns, Runing Back Jarveon Howard had 18 carries for 128-yards and Griffin had 3 receptions for 79-yards. Defensively, Defensive Lineman Keenan Leachman had a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception for a touchdown. The Braves had 439-yards of total offense for the game with 2 turnovers and 25 first downs.
Alcorn next game will be against the Texas Southern University Tigers (2-7, 1-5) on Sunday, November 12th at 2:00 pm. You can hear the game on WPRL 91.7 FM or wprl.org.
(Photo Credit: Brandon Buie)
