Alcorn State Braves Send the TSU Tigers Packing with their Tails Between their Legs

ALCORN STATE, MS --The Alcorn State Braves welcomed the Tigers of Texas Southern to the beautiful greens of 1000 ASU Drive. Today's game served as high school day as well as military and first responders' appreciation day. Under bright lights and gorgeous skies at Dwight Fisher Field the Braves delivered a show stopping explosive performance on offense and defense. You would have to be here to experience the electric atmosphere and crisp breeze setting the tone for exciting football action. Weather…..ideal for any football lover! Today's match up is the first game back at Spinks-Casem since the Braves two game winning streak against the Jaguars of Southern University.

The first quarter of action was a showcase and birthday highlight reel for senior wide receiver Terrance Lewis. Rookie quarterback John Gibbs connected with Lewis via air on an eight yard pass for an early Braves touchdown with 11:27. The drive went seven plays for sixty-five yards in 3:17 for a first quarter score of 7-0.

In the second quarter, the Tigers got on the scoreboard off the foot of senior kicker Robert Hersh with a forty yard field goal with 8:57 left in the quarter. The drive went eight plays for fifty-seven yards in 3:37 for a score of 7-3. The Braves responded with a successful scoring drive of their own. With 4:19 on the clock freshman quarterback Jordan Payne connected with senior wide receiver Nick Brooks for a nine yard pass and the PAT was good by sophomore kicker Ernesto Santillan for a score of 14-3. The drive went five plays and fifty-seven yards in 1:29. With more back and forth scoring between the teams Texas Southern scored their first touchdown with Rudolph Johnson hitting James Davis for a nineteen yard pass with 0:34 on the clock. The scoring drive was ten plays and seventy-four yards in 3:41. The score at the half was 14-10.



After going in down at the half the last two games, head coach Jay Hopson was elated to deliver not a motivational speech instead a resounding rally of the troops highlighting the team word of the season “execution”.

The third quarter saw Texas Southern edging a come-back; scoring first in the second half the Tigers' James Davis reached the end zone off a pass from Johnson for twenty-two yards. That drive was four plays for thirty-seven yards in 2:52. With 12:06 on the clock the score was 17-14, Texas Southern leading. The Braves quickly responded by putting our work horse….running back sensation senior Arnold Walker to work. On a two yard run in thirteen plays and sixty yards the Braves scored again. The clock read 7:03 and the score to end the quarter was 21-17.

Welcome to the fourth quarter, with all fours in the air the team was more than ready to put the icing on the cake and the win in the books. As in the previous quarter TSU scored first with a quarterback keeper run Johnson broke the plane with a forty-six yard run and the PAT was good by Hersh. The drive went four plays and eighty yards in 1:44 with 14:46 on the clock. The score was 24-21 with TSU looking to seal the deal. The Braves quickly responded with Walker pounding into the end zone at the 12:37 mark on a one yard run. The PAT by Santillan was no good leaving the Braves with a score of 27-24. The Braves went nine plays and seventy-five yards in 2:09. After the clinic Walker and Lewis put on Tollete George joined the party with a forty-one yard pass by Gibbs for the final score of the game with 1:46 left. The drive was eight plays and seventy-one yards in 3:56. Your final score from Spinks-Casem was 34-24. The Braves improve to 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

"I thought the guys executed when they had to and did enough to win the game. I'd like to eliminate the penalities but overall we ran and threw the ball effectively. I thought Arnold Walker ran the ball extremely hard and he brought life and energy to this unit", said offensive coordinator Willie Simmons.

The Braves will be back in action next weekend at home against arch-rival Jackson State University in the Magnolia Heritage Classic: Return of the Soul Bowl. Kick-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. We advise you all to get here early because you don't want to miss this thrilling finale from Dwight Fisher Field!




COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION