Sunday, September 23, 2007

Special teams propel Alabama State Hornets over Alcorn State


Photo: Alabama State running back Jay Peck struggles past Alcorn State's Benjamin Griffin on Saturday at Cramton Bowl.

By A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

The rain came down in sheets, peppering the Cramton Bowl crowd and sending the fans scurrying for umbrellas and cover.

Considering Alabama State's fourth-quarter habits this season, few of them left to dodge a first-half rainstorm.

The Hornets rallied in the final period for a victory for the fourth time in four games this season, scoring two late touchdowns and picking up three key plays on special teams to beat Alcorn State 28-25 on Saturday.

"The best teams win close games," junior defensive back Travis Rayford said. "It may be scary, but we did it when we had to."

Quarterback Chris Mitchell ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the last set up when Rayford recovered a fumbled kickoff return, and the Hornets improved to 4-0 for the first time since their 1991 national championship team.

Mitchell scored on a 23-yard run with 91/2 minutes to play to give the Hornets (3-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference) the lead and jumped in from the 1 with eight minutes remaining to make it 28-18.

"This is too scary for me," Mitchell said. "But it doesn't matter how we win, as long as we win."

Alcorn State (0-4, 0-3 SWAC) scored only one touchdown in its first three games, but scored three Saturday -- two on Chris Walker passes -- and led 18-14 when the fourth quarter started.

But a late deficit is a ho-hum thing for the Hornets.

Bama State beat Jacksonville State 24-19 on a touchdown with three minutes left, downed Texas Southern 21-10 behind two touchdowns in the final three minutes and stopped Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12-10 last week on a last-minute touchdown.

"Every team has its personality," first-year ASU coach Reggie Barlow said. "It seems that ours is taking on a 'come back in the fourth quarter' one.

"We don't want to continue that," he said, "but we'll take them however we can."

Mitchell and special teams provided the path Saturday.

Joel Raggins had a 41-yard punt return that put Alabama State at the Alcorn 37 to set up Mitchell's first fourth-quarter score. The Hornets ran an option and Mitchell -- after a sweet pitch fake -- kept the ball and ran for the score.

"It's just something I picked up," Mitchell said. "I've been working on it."

On the ensuing kickoff, Alcorn's Nate Hughes fumbled the return. Jimmy Toussaint forced it and Rayford recovered at the 11. Four plays later, Mitchell had a 1-yard touchdown and the Hornets led 28-18.

"That fumble gave us more momentum," Mitchell said. "That gets the offense the ball back and gives us a chance again right away."

The second score became important.

Alcorn needed only four plays to make it 28-25 on Tony Hobson's 18-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Arceneaux and soon had the ball back. Alabama State went three-and-out and on came its new punter.

Alex Engram, ASU's backup quarterback, boomed a 54-yarder that pushed the Braves back to their 7-yard line. Alcorn State didn't run another play outside its 25-yard line.

Engram averaged more than 42 yards on his six punts, dropping two inside the 20.

"He just learned how to punt this week," Barlow said. "He took one for the team and learned how to punt."

Mitchell was 9-of-20 passing for 136 yards and a first-half touchdown, while running back Jay Peck posted his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game. Peck totaled 143 yards, including a career-high 69-yard carry.

Walker was 18-of-31 for 216 yards to lead Alcorn, while a Montgomery native made his season debut with 101 yards rushing. G.W. Carver High graduate Eric Relf, who didn't play in the Braves' first three games due to a leg injury, carried 11 times and lost a second-half fumble.

"It's real disappointing because this is my first game back," Relf said. "The offensive line did a great job, and I wanted to come out and play hard. I did well, except for that fumble."

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