Alcorn Game Notes | Braves All-Access | Live Radio | Live Stats
LORMAN, Mississippi -- With the opportunity to clinch its fourth consecutive SWAC East Division title, the Alcorn State University football program will host Mississippi Valley State at 2 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
The Braves (6-3, 4-1 SWAC) will win the division if they beat the Delta Devils (2-7, 1-4 SWAC). If Alcorn losses, it will have to beat Jackson State OR have MVSU beat Alabama State next weekend.
An Alabama State loss to Grambling State this weekend does not secure Alcorn the division title. The standings are based off division results only.
Senior running back De'Lance Turner needs 279 more rushing yards to break the single-season school rushing record of 1,286 set by Rodney Thomas in 1998. Turner ranks third in the FCS in total rushing yards with 1,009 and fourth in both yards per carry (7.88) and rushing yards per game (112.1).
Sophomore kicker/punter Corey McCullough is the reigning FCS National and SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week winner. He broke the school's single-season field goal record with 14 after drilling four against AAMU. He also punted six times for 309 yards, averaging 51.5 yards per punt.
Junior running back P.J. Simmons is the reigning SWAC Newcomer of the Week winner. He registered a career-high 172 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Simmons averaged 17.2 yards per carry and nearly doubled his previous career-best.
As a team, Alcorn ranks first in the conference in total offense (431.1 ypg), rushing offense (232.2 ypg), first downs (19.4 per game), third down conversions (42.1 percent) and red zone defense (64.0 percent). The red zone defense is also sixth in the FCS, while the rushing offense ranks 13th.
Alcorn is coming off a 47-22 win over Alabama A&M last weekend. The Braves had three 100-plus rushers and ran for 416 yards as a team. Alcorn defeated AAMU for the fifth straight season and have scored at least 40 points in every game during the streak.
MVSU is coming off a 38-21 defeat to Texas Southern last weekend. Its lone conference win came over Arkansas-Pine Bluff 38-31 on the road on Oct. 7.
The Delta Devils feature a dangerous aerial attack and lead the conference in passing with 298.3 yards per game. Junior wide receiver Quinn McElfresh has caught four touchdown passes and leads the league in both receptions per game (4.9) and receiving yards per game (80.4).
MVSU has used three different quarterbacks this year but Christopher Fowler has taken the majority of the snaps. Fowler has thrown for 1,465 yards and six touchdowns on the season.
The game can be watched on Braves All-Access with a subscription. It can also be heard for free on 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond as the voice of the Braves.
NOTES
- Alcorn has gone undefeated against SWAC East Division opponents in back-to-back seasons. The Braves have posted 10 consecutive wins over division foes.
- The Braves are looking to defeat the Delta Devils for the fifth consecutive year. Alcorn has won eight straight meetings against MVSU at home dating back to 1999.
- Alcorn is on a three-game home winning-streak. The Braves are 73-52 all-time at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium which is in its 26th season (first year was 1992).
- The Braves have been flipping back-and-forth between their quarterbacks. Sophomore Noah Johnson got the start last game and rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Lenorris Footman did not play, but in the prior two games against Grambling State and Prairie View A&M, Johnson and Footman split time.
- Footman ranks No. 6 all-time in school history in career rushing yards with 1,964. He's also seventh in career touchdown passes (30) and ninth in career passing yards (3,927).
- Alcorn sits at No. 4 in this weeks BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll. The Braves are second among SWAC teams behind Grambling State which is No. 2.
- Junior wide receiver Marquis Warford is a threat on both kick and punt returns. He leads the conference in punt return average (10.9) and ran one back for 72 yards for a score against Miles College. Warford is also top-five in the league in all-purpose yards with 118.6 per outing.
- Senior wide receiver Norlando Veals ranks second in the SWAC in both receptions per game (4.2) and receiving yards per game (68.8).
- Sophomore defensive back Javen Morrison leads the team with three interceptions and ranks 12th in the FCS with 1.33 pass break-ups per game.
- McCullough has made a league-high 14 field goals on the year. His 1.56 field goals made per game is third in the FCS. McCullough is also top-10 in the country in punting average (43.2 yards).
- The Braves have won nine SWAC Player of the Week awards this year. Turner has won two Offensive Player of the Week awards, Footman has won once, Warford and McCullough earned Special Teams Player of the Week, junior Isiah Thomas, junior Trae Ferrell and sophomore Solomon Muhammad each won Defensive Player of the Week and Simmons won Newcomer of the Week.
- Six different receivers have caught touchdown passes for Alcorn this season, and 15 student-athletes have at least one reception.
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
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