On a gloomy Autumn afternoon, the Tigers from Grambling State University (GSU) entered Lorman, Mississippi to take on the Alcorn State University Braves at Spinks-Casem lStadium. The Braves (5-2, 3-1) entered the game atop the Eastern Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) while the Tigers (3-3, 2-1) entered the game second in the Western Division of the SWAC.
Grambling wasted little time finding the end zone on their opening drive. GSU displayed a good ground attack as they were able to drive 75-yards for a touchdown. The drive was topped off by Grambling’s Running back Jonathan Robinson on a 3-yard rush. At the 10:19 mark of the first quarter, the Braves trailed 7-0. Alcorn then went three-and-out, as they were unable to establish anything against the Tigers’ defense. The punt from the Braves led to more points for Grambling. The Tigers marched 44-yards into Alcorn’s territory and eventually drilled a field goal. The field goal pushed the Tigers’ lead to 10-0 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. After another punt from Alcorn, Grambling again knocked through a field goal to add to their lead. As the three minute mark of the first quarter approached, the Braves trailed 13-0. Alcorn found a nice tempo on their third drive of the game. Good completions from Quarterback Noah Johnson to Wide receiver Charles Hughes helped set up an eventual touchdown for Alcorn. On 2nd and 10 from the Grambling 12-yard line, Running back De’Shawn Waller rushed for the Braves’ first score of the game. The game entered the second quarter with the Tigers leading 13-7.
In the second quarter, Alcorn struck first with a 26-yard field goal from Kicker Corey McCullough to decrease their deficit to 13-10. On Grambling’s ensuing drive, Alcorn’s linebacker, Daimen Anderson forced a fumble recovered by the Braves. Alcorn took over possession on the Tigers’ 9-yard line. Johnson then hooked up with Wide receiver Chris Blair for a Braves’ touchdown. Alcorn took the lead with 12:06 remaining in the first half. The Braves’ defense wasn’t done making big plays in the first half. Defensive back Javen Morrison caught his third interception of the year, and returned it 34-yards for an Alcorn State touchdown. As the game entered halftime, the Braves held a 23-13 lead over the Tigers.
As the second half began, both defenses seemed to be peaking. After a pair of punts from both sides, the Tigers got on the scoreboard first with a 52-yard field goal by Kicker Marc Orozco. With 6:51 remaining in the third quarter Alcorn held a slim 23-16 lead. The Braves’ offense wasn’t exactly sharp in the third quarter as they again were forced to punt the ball to the Tigers. Grambling then tied the game up with a 24-yard touchdown run by Quarterback Geremy Hickbottom. The game entered the fourth quarter tied at 23.
In the fourth quarter, both teams were able to tack on three points with field goals. As the game reached the final two minutes, the score was tied at 26. The Braves took over possession of the football and started to march down the field. On third and long, Johnson threw a pass to Wide receiver Dayall Harris who made a tremendous acrobatic catch for 33-yards. This catch set up a 1-yard touchdown catch by Blair with 12-seconds remaining in the game. The Braves would go on to win the contest 33-26.
Johnson ended the game with two passing touchdowns and 220 total yards. Waller rushed 17 times and racked up 76 yards and a touchdown. Blair had a nice game reeling in five catches for 37-yards and two touchdowns. The Braves improved to (6-2, 3-1) while the Tigers dropped to (3-4, 2-2).
On Saturday, October 27th at 2:00 pm Alcorn will take on the Prairie View A&M University Panthers (3-4, 2-1) at Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field in Prairie View, Texas.