PVAMU Panthers Win Fourth Straight, Hold Off Alcorn State 40-34

LORMAN, Mississippi -- A 40-point first half was just enough as Prairie View A&M held off Alcorn State 40-34 in a wet and wild affair at Spinks-Casem Stadium on Saturday night.

The Panthers wasted no time in setting the tone as they needed only three plays on the opening drive as Johnta' Hebert caught a 52-yard pass from Trey Green to move into scoring position. Two plays later, Courtney Brown scored from 20 yards out as the PAT was unsuccessful for a 6-0 lead. After forcing a punt, the special teams unit made their presence known as the nation's block kick leader in Nick Brewer blocked an ASU punt and Fred Anderson ran it in from 40 yards out for a 12-0 lead after another missed PAT.

Both teams traded punts after the score and on ASU's punt attempt, Brewer struck again as he blocked an ASU punt and did a scoop and score from 30 yards out and a 19-0 lead after the PAT. ASU would strike back on 3rd-and-12 as Lenorris Footman rushed in from 36 yards out to cut the score to 19-7 as the quarter would come to an end.

The Braves regained their offensive groove and cut the deficit to 19-14 early in the second stanza as Footman took off for a 52-yard scamper. After another PVAMU punt, the Panther defense stepped up big time on the ensuing possession as DeVohn Reed sacked and stripped Footman of the ball and Damond Jackson recovered it at the ASU 7. One play later, Anderson scored his second touchdown of the game as he scored from seven yards out and a 26-14 lead after the PAT.

ASU punted on its next possession and Hebert only needed one play to move PVAMU ahead 33-14 as he broke free for a 61-yard run. After another ASU punt, the Panthers went on a methodical, 19-play, 55-yard drive which took 5:33 as they converted on two big third down conversions en route to a De'Auntre Smiley 3-yard rush. The PAT was good as the Panthers closed out the first half ahead 40-14.

The Braves came out with a vengeance in the second half as Footman led the Braves on an eight-play, 50-yard drive which was capped off by a Footman 14-yard pass to Arron Baker with 7:23 left and a 40-20 deficit as the PAT failed. The Panthers punted once again and ASU would find the end zone once again on the ensuing drive as Arron Baker broke for a 76-yard run and a 40-27 lead after the PAT.

The Panthers punted to open the fourth quarter and ASU kept on churning as Footman found Tollette George for a 15-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the endzone. The PAT was good as the once safe lead dwindled down to 40-34 with 10:47 left.

The Panthers were stopped in their tracks on the next drive as they failed to convert a 4th-and-1 at the ASU 40. However, the defense stepped up and forced consecutive incomplete passes to set up an ASU punt. With momentum in ASU's corner and the offense struggling to move the ball in key situations, it was gut check time as they needed to eat plenty of time off the clock.

The Panthers did just that as De'Auntre Smiley converted a game-changing 4th-and-1 with a 14-yard run to the ASU 41 followed by another blow as Courtney Brown rushed for 12 yards on 3rd-and-3 to the ASU 22. Three plays later on 3rd-and-9 at the ASU 21, Green found Hebert for a 13-yard strike and a first down. The Panthers milked off as much clock as they could from that point as ASU received the ball on downs but failed to convert the final play of the game.

Brown and Hebert combined to rush for 211 yards and two touchdowns as Hebert finished with 112 yards on 20 carries while Brown finished with 99 yards on 14 carries. Trey Green passed for 119 yards on only 5-of-10 passes while Hebert caught four passes for 85 yards. Linebacker Jalan Coleman led all defenders with nine tackles while Arthur Lockett broke up three passes.

The Panthers close out their road trip next week in Montgomery, Ala. as they'll face Alabama State.



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