The Alcorn State University Braves (ASU) (3-2, 1-0) played the Texas Southern University Tigers (TSU) (0-4, 0-1) on Friday, September 29th at 8:00 pm in BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas and although the game wasn’t played on a Saturday the Braves and Tigers gave the crowd a feel as though it was.
Alcorn hopped on the score board first in the first quarter at the 12:17 mark when Quarterback Lenorris Footman hit Wide receiver Norlando Veals with a 45 yard pass for the score and with a successful point after attempt (PAT) from Kicker Corey McCullough the score was 7-0, Braves. ASU scored again with 35 seconds left in the quarter when Running back P.J. Simmons scored on an 8 yard run and with a McCullough extra point the score was now 14-0, Braves. Realizing the severity of getting too deep in the hole against the Braves, the Tigers, on the ensuing kickoff, scored with 22 seconds remaining in the quarter when Wide receiver Daequan Jones returned the ball 93 yards for a touchdown and with Kicker Aaron Cuevas’ extra point the score ending the quarter was 14-7, Braves.
The second quarter saw both teams go scoreless as it became an intense defensive battle leaving the score at halftime 14-7, Braves.
ASU came out of the locker room and into the third quarter full of vigor. At the 13:29 mark Footman scored on a 1 yard run and with a McCullough extra point the score was now 21-7, Braves. The Tigers were not to be outdone because at the 4:04 mark Running back Brad Woodard scored on a 2 yard run to pay dirt and with a successful Cuevas extra point the score was now 21-14, Braves.
The fourth quarter was literally the deciding factor for these two football juggernauts. At the 11:21 mark the Braves’ McCullough sank a 28 yard field goal right between the uprights making the score 24-14, Braves. The last score for the Tigers came at the 4:58 mark when Cuevas kicked a 49 yard field goal to make the score 24-17 but it was too little too late as the Braves ran out the clock making the final score 24-17, Braves.
The Braves have no time to rest on their laurels being that they have a game on Thursday, October 5th at 6:30 pm against the Alabama State Hornets (0-4,0-1) at The New ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama. The game will be televised on ESPNU.