The Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (2-3, 1-1) needed a victory Saturday, September 30th at ASU Stadium in Montgomery, Alabama against the Alabama State University Hornets (1-3, 0-2) to remain in contention for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West title. And with some specific plays and a little bit of luck “The Cardiac Kids” did just that securing an overtime win 23-20.
Alcorn got on the scoreboard first in the first quarter with one second remaining when Kicker Noah Kiani booted a 39-yard field goal straight between the uprights to make the score 3-0, Braves.
The Hornets took the lead at the 9:10 mark in the second quarter when Running Back Jaylen Sulton scored on a 2-yard run and with Kicker Jaydon John’s extra point the score was now, 3-7, Hornets. Not to be outdone, the Braves hit paydirt at the 6:20 mark when Wide Receiver Akeem McNair caught a 13-yard pass from Aaron Allen and with a successful Kiani extra point the score was now 10-7, Braves. Alabama State scored right before halftime at the 2:36 mark when Running Back Marcus Harris II scored on a 10-yard run. The point after attempt was no good making the score 10-13, Hornets.
The Braves did the only scoring in the third quarter when Quarterback Aaron Allen hit Wide Receiver Monterio Hunt with a 54-yard pass for a touchdown at the 7:30 mark and with Kiani’s extra point the score was now 17-13, Braves.
Alabama State scored first in the fourth quarter when Defensive Back James Burgess blocked a field goal and trucked it 75-yards to the end zone and with John’s extra point the score now was 17-20, Hornets. Alcorn answered when Kiani scored on a 24-yard field goal tying the game up at 20 and forcing overtime.
As overtime commenced Kiani showed why he was this week’s ‘Specialist of the Week’ when he nailed a 30-yard field goal sending the Braves back to ‘The Reservation” with a 23-20 victory.
Statistical leaders for the Braves were Allen who completed 32 passes for 370-yards and 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, Running Back Jarveon Howard had 24-yards rushing, Hunt had 6 receptions for 109-yards and Linebacker Stemarion Edwards had 13 tackles with 2.5 of them being Tackles for Loss (TFL).
Alcorn’s next game will be its Homecoming in Lorman, Mississippi at Spinks-Casem Stadium where they will face the Grambling State University Tigers (3-2, 2-0) who are currently the West Division leaders. The game will be on Saturday, October 7th at 2:30 pm and can be heard on wprl.org.
