The Alcorn State University Braves (2-2, 2-3) went into Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama knowing that this was a must win game for them against their Eastern Division rivals the Alabama A&M Bulldogs (1-4, 1-5). Although it was the Bulldog’s Homecoming the Braves didn’t give them the courtesy of giving their fans a much needed win.
Alcorn scored the only points in the first quarter at the 12:36 mark when running back Arron Baker scored on a 16 yard run and with kicker Haiden McCraney’s extra point attempt the Braves led early 7-0.
The second quarter saw the Bulldogs make a contest out of it when at the 6:11 mark kicker Nick Carden nailed a 35 yard field goal making the score 7-3, Braves. The Braves flexed their muscle at the 5:51 mark when quarterback Lenorris Footman scored on a 53 yard run and with a McCraney point after attempt (PAT) the score was now 14-3, Braves. A&M got on the scoreboard at the 54 second mark when tight end Jonathan Dorsey caught a 23 yard touchdown strike from quarterback De’Angelo Balla but with a failed PAT by Carden the score was now 14-9, Braves. With the Braves’ next possession Footman was intercepted giving the Bulldogs an excellent opportunity to score upon which they did at the 29 second mark when Dorsey caught a 23 yard pass from Balla and with a successful extra point from Carden A&M took the lead going into halftime 16-14.
The third quarter promised to be exciting as Alcorn scored first at the 10:59 mark when wide receiver Collins Moore snagged a 20 yard pass from Footman and with a McCraney extra point the Braves retook the lead 21-16. A&M, not to be shut out in the quarter, scored at the 1:54 mark when Carden nailed a 34 yard field goal making the score 21-19, Braves.
Alcorn looked like an unstoppable juggernaut in the fourth quarter. At the 12:46 mark wide receiver Jaborian McKenzie caught a 20 yard reception from Footman and with a successful PAT by McCraney the score was now 28-19, Braves. The scoring onslaught didn’t stop there because at the 8:10 mark Footman scored on a 1 yard run and with a McCraney extra point the score was now 35-19, Braves. Alcorn’s final scoring drive came at the 3:14 mark when Footman scored yet again, this time on a 4 yard run and with a McCraney PAT the final score was 42-19, Braves.
After a three week road trip the Braves return home for Homecoming 2016 to take on the Texas Southern Tigers on October 15, 2016 at Spinks-Casem Stadium at 2:00 pm.