Image via The Commercial Appeal
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The 37th Southern Heritage Classic delivered an instant classic Saturday night as Alcorn State rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-51 in double overtime at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The 104 combined points were the most in Southern Heritage Classic history, while the game marked only the fourth overtime contest in Classic history and the first since 2006.
Alcorn improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in SWAC play, while UAPB fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The Braves needed a furious fourth-quarter comeback to get there.
UAPB led 38-24 with 9:40 remaining, but Alcorn scored 14 unanswered points to force overtime. After the teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Alcorn running back Ernest Temple scored the deciding touchdown in the second overtime before the Braves stopped UAPB’s two-point attempt to seal the victory.
🔥 The Jaylon Tolbert Show
Alcorn quarterback Jaylon Tolbert turned in one of the greatest passing performances in Southern Heritage Classic history.
Tolbert completed 32 of 45 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns, setting career highs in both passing yards and touchdown passes. He became the first Alcorn quarterback to throw for at least 400 yards since LenNorris Footman did so against McNeese State in 2017.
Even more impressive: Tolbert completed passes to 12 different receivers.
Alcorn passing
Jaylon Tolbert
- 32-of-45
- 488 yards
- 5 TD
- 2 INT
Alcorn rushing
Ernest Temple
- 28 carries
- 144 yards
- 2 TD
- 5.1 yards per carry
Jaylon Tolbert
- 36 rushing yards
Fredrick Robertson
- 22 rushing yards
- 1 TD
🎯 Tyree Kelly Goes Off
Wide receiver Tyree Kelly was Tolbert’s biggest weapon.
Kelly finished with:
- 6 receptions
- 151 yards
- 2 touchdowns
- Long: 68 yards
His second touchdown was arguably the play that changed the game.
With UAPB leading 38-24, Kelly hauled in a 68-yard touchdown with 9:21 remaining, cutting the deficit to 38-31.
Just 19 seconds later, Alcorn had new life.
Other Alcorn receiving leaders
| Player | Rec. | Yards | TD |
| Tyree Kelly | 6 | 151 | 2 |
| Armon Wright | 6 | 60 | 1 |
| Damien Jones | 4 | 59 | 1 |
| Ernest Temple | 5 | 56 | 0 |
| Nolan Chambers | — | — | 1 |
Kelly, Wright, Jones and Chambers accounted for all five of Tolbert’s touchdown passes.
🦁 UAPB Fights Back
The Golden Lions had control of the game late.
Quarterback Garrison Davis connected with D’Avery Robinson twice for touchdowns in the second quarter, then found Jordan Jackson for a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
UAPB eventually extended its advantage to 38-24 after Za’Marion Webber ripped off a 54-yard touchdown run.
Then came the comeback.
UAPB’s biggest plays
D’Avery Robinson
- 25-yard TD reception
- 39-yard TD reception
Jordan Jackson
- 21-yard TD reception
Za’Marion Webber
- 54-yard TD run
Michael Henderson
- 100-yard interception return for TD
Paul Summers II
- 7-yard TD reception in first overtime
Jaylen Jennings
- 18-yard TD run in second overtime
📊 Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring
| Quarter | UAPB | Alcorn State |
| 1st | 3 | 12 |
| 2nd | 14 | 6 |
| 3rd | 7 | 0 |
| 4th | 14 | 20 |
| 1st OT | 7 | 7 |
| 2nd OT | 6 | 8 |
| Final | 51 | 53 |
Scoring Plays
First Quarter
- 10:51 — Alcorn: Tyree Kelly 28-yard TD reception from Jaylon Tolbert — 6-0
- 7:06 — UAPB: Trey Glymph 26-yard field goal — 6-3
- 4:35 — Alcorn: Nolan Chambers 23-yard TD reception — 12-3
Second Quarter
- 14:51 — UAPB: D’Avery Robinson 25-yard TD reception from Garrison Davis — 12-10
- 4:47 — Alcorn: Ernest Temple 1-yard TD run — 18-10
- 1:54 — UAPB: D’Avery Robinson 39-yard TD reception — 18-17
Third Quarter
- 10:25 — UAPB: Jordan Jackson 21-yard TD reception — 24-18
Fourth Quarter
- 14:44 — UAPB: Michael Henderson 100-yard interception return — 31-18
- 12:14 — Alcorn: Fredrick Robertson 4-yard TD run — 31-24
- 9:40 — UAPB: Za’Marion Webber 54-yard TD run — 38-24
- 9:21 — Alcorn: Tyree Kelly 68-yard TD reception — 38-31
- 3:50 — Alcorn: Damien Jones 9-yard TD reception — 38-38
Alcorn then had a chance to win in regulation, but a 21-yard field-goal attempt was blocked as time expired.
First Overtime
- UAPB: Paul Summers II 7-yard TD reception — 45-38
- Alcorn: Armon Wright 3-yard TD reception — 45-45
Second Overtime
- Alcorn: Ernest Temple 2-yard TD run
- Alcorn: Two-point conversion — 53-45
- UAPB: Jaylen Jennings 18-yard TD run — 53-51
- UAPB: Two-point attempt fails
BALLGAME.
Team Stats
Category Category | UAPB | Alcorn |
| Total Yards | 425 | 699 |
| Passing | 167 | 485 |
| Rushing | 258 | 214 |
| First Downs | 19 | 34 |
| 3rd Down | 4-12 | 5-13 |
| 4th Down | 1-1 | 1-2 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Penalties | 10-67 | 9-74 |
| Time of Possession | 30:14 | 29:46 |
produced 699 yards of total offense, including 485 passing yards and 214 rushing yards.
🛡️ Defensive Standouts
Alcorn State
Timothy Jasper
- 13 tackles
- 1 interception
Jayden Davis
- 5 tackles
Kyshawn Kimble
- 5 tackles
Jordan Daniel
- 5 tackles
Alcorn also recorded three sacks, with Kenneth Andrews, Dillon Crowell and Jakel Houston-Irving recording one apiece. Elijah Ruffin forced a fumble and Mahamadou Diarra recovered one.
UAPB
Michael Henderson
- 100-yard interception return TD
- 7 tackles
Henderson’s pick-six temporarily pushed the Golden Lions ahead 31-18 in the fourth quarter.
🏆 Game-Changing Moments
1. The 68-yard Kelly touchdown
UAPB had just scored to take a 38-24 lead.
Alcorn answered 19 seconds later.
That changed the momentum.
2. The blocked field goal
Alcorn reached the UAPB 3-yard line in the final seconds of regulation, but the 21-yard field goal was blocked.
The game went to overtime.
3. Temple in the second OT
With the game tied at 45, Temple powered into the end zone from two yards out.
Alcorn then converted the two-point try to make it 53-45.
4. The final stop
UAPB scored again.
But instead of kicking, the Golden Lions needed two points to extend the game.
The conversion failed.
Alcorn escaped Memphis with a 53-51 victory.
