Alcorn Braves Face Stiff Test Saturday Against Grambling

LORMAN, Mississippi – In a rematch of the last three SWAC Championships, the Alcorn State University football program will host Grambling State in a Purple Out at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
 
Both teams are fighting for the top spot in their respective divisions. Alcorn (5-2, 3-1 SWAC) currently has a 0.5 game lead on Jackson State in the East Division, and a one game lead on Alabama State but the Hornets have the tiebreaker. GSU (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) is in a three-way tie with Southern and Prairie View A&M in the West Division.
 
The Braves have been one of the top teams in the nation defensively. Alcorn's defense is second in the FCS in tackles per loss per game (9.0), third in third down percentage defense (.289), third in sacks per game (4.0), fourth in total yards (251.0 ypg), seventh in red zone defense (.667) and ninth in passing yards allowed (160.3 ypg).
 
Although he was hardly recognized in the preseason, sophomore defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole has catapulted to the top of the Alcorn tackles list. He leads the Braves with 32 on the year. Cole, who has started just two games, recorded interceptions in back-to-back games against Southern and Alabama State.
 
Senior Sterling Shippy is coming off a big outing against Alabama A&M, a game in which the Braves on 35-26. Shippy wrapped-up a career-high 2.5 sacks which was key as the Braves sacked the Bulldogs eight times. He's been Alcorn's captain on defense in each of the last six contests.
 
The Braves used a big second half to beat AAMU after breaking a 10-10 halftime tie. Though, the biggest play of the day came in the first half when junior quarterback Noah Johnson took off for the longest touchdown run in school history on a 92-yarder.
 
Johnson ranks 12th in the nation in completion percentage (.662) and top-20 in rushing TD's (7). He's also second in the SWAC in total offense with 223.9 yards per game. Johnson has thrown for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns, and has rushed for 539 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
 
GSU, the two-time defending SWAC champion, lost its quarterback DeVante Kincade at the end of last season. Though, Geremy Hickbottom has stepped in and has thrown for eight touchdowns and rushed for five touchdowns in six games. He's Grambling's leading rusher with 239 yards on the year.
 
SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year De'Arius Christmas is the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week winner. He tallied eight tackles, including seven solo, two sacks and an interception on GSU's 34-21 victory over Texas Southern.
 
In conference games this year, the Tigers allow just 14.3 points per game which is best in the league.
 
The game will be nationally televised on ESPN3 with Jay Walker and Eric Clemons on the call. It can also be heard live for free on 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond as the voice of the Braves.
 
NOTES
- The Alcorn offense leads the SWAC in scoring (34.1 ppg), total offense (472.4 ypg), rushing (293.7 ypg) and first downs per game (21.9). The Braves have used a three running back and two quarterback system.
 
- Junior running back De'Shawn Waller has come on strong as of late. He's coming off back-to-back 100-yard rushing games including a career-high 214 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama State. Waller won back-to-back SWAC Newcomer of the Week awards after games against Southern and ASU.
 
- The Braves moved up to No. 3 in this week's HBCU Poll and were receiving votes in the Preseason FCS Poll. Grambling sits at No. 4.
 
- Alcorn has won six SWAC Player of the Week awards in seven weeks this year. In addition to Waller's two awards, other honorees include junior Javen Morrison who was named both the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week and HBCU National Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions against TSU. Junior Raidarious Anderson won SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, and senior Johnathon Hauer earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week after the win against LC. Alcorn won 10 SWAC weekly honors last season.
 
- The Braves are 10-0 when leading at halftime over the last two seasons.
 
- Alcorn spoiled two Homecomings this year. Prior to AAMU, the Braves notched a 20-3 win at Southern. The Alcorn defense limited the Jaguars to just 139 yards of offense, including 76 passing and 63 rushing yards. The Braves improved to 37-27-2 all-time against SU.
 
- The Braves dropped a five-overtime marathon against Alabama State 28-25. Alcorn held an edge of 530-240 in total yards and 408-85 in rushing. The Braves had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but a 28-yard field goal attempt was no good, wide-right. It snapped Alcorn's four-game winning-streak and six-game home winning-streak. It was the first five-overtime game in FCS since Oct. 4, 2014 between Davidson and Dayton.
 
- Alcorn opened conference play with a 56-20 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 22. The Braves held a 665-200 edge in total yards and 462-22 in rushing. Senior P.J. Simmons rushed for a career-high 210 yards and a touchdown. The Braves won their sixth straight game over the Delta Devils and lead the all-time series 45-15-1. Alcorn has outscored MVSU 318-78 over the last six games.
 
- The Braves notched a 27-15 victory over Texas Southern in a non-conference game. Alcorn raced out to a 27-0 halftime lead which was too much for the Tigers to overcome. The Braves posted their seventh straight win over TSU in the series.
 
- In Alcorn's home-opener, the team broke a Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium scoring record by defeating Louisiana College 78-0. It was the second-most lopsided score in school history, only behind a 101-0 victory over Paul Quinn in 1967. Alcorn won its home opener for the sixth year in a row.
 
- Morrison has been a lockdown defender for the Braves in his career and has led the team in interceptions in each of the last two seasons. He's up to eight in his career.

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS