The Alcorn State Braves (1-2, 1-3) traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium to take on the 20th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (0-1, 4-1) from the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Braves entered the contest desperately needing a win and played as such.
The first quarter saw the ‘Hogs’ show why they are ranked within the Top 25 as they scored first at the 12:11 mark when kicker Cole Hedlund kicked a 25 yard field goal making the score 3-0, Arkansas. The Razorbacks were not done scoring because 3 minutes and 8 seconds later quarterback Austin Allen threw a 29 yard pass to wide receiver Jared Cornelius and with a successful Hedlund extra point attempt the score was now 10-0, Arkansas. The ‘Hogs’ got on the scoreboard yet again at the 7:22 mark when running back Devwah Whaley ran for a 75 yard touchdown and with a Hedlund point after attempt (PAT) the score was now 17-0, Arkansas. With 17 seconds left in the first quarter the ‘Dynamic Duo’ of Allen and Cornelius connected again when Allen completed a 35 yard touchdown strike to Cornelius and with another Hedlund PAT the score was now 24-0, Arkansas.
The Braves’ offense showed the Arkansas defense some spunk in the second quarter when at the 10:44 mark quarterback Noah Johnson scored on a 12 yard run and with kicker Haiden McCraney’s extra point attempt being good the score was now 24-7, Arkansas.
The Razerbacks continued their offensive onslaught in the third quarter when at the 9:32 mark defensive back Henre’ Toliver intercepted a Noah Johnson pass and took it in for a touchdown and with Hedlund’s extra point the score was now 31-7. With just under four minutes from the previous score the Hogs put up yet another score when wide receiver Cody Hollister scampered in for a 26 yard touchdown and with a Hedlund PAT the score was now 38-7, Arkansas. The Braves scored for the second time in the contest at the 3:40 mark when McCraney kicked a 43 yard field goal to make the score 38-10, Arkansas.
The ‘Hogs’ began the fourth quarter as though they were putting everyone on notice in the SEC. At the 13:49 mark Allen hit wide receiver La’Michael Pettway for a 10 yard touchdown and with another successful Hedlund PAT the score was now 45-10, Arkansas. The Razorback’s final score came at the 6:36 mark when running back T.J. Hammonds rumbled into the end zone on a 5 yard touchdown run and with another Hedlund extra point the final score of the game was 52-10, Arkansas.
Alcorn returns to Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play on October 8th, 2016 when they take on the Alabama A&M University Bulldogs in Huntsville, Alabama at Louis Crews Stadium at 2:00 pm.