SWAC October 6 Football Recap

As both teams huddled up, the sophomore kicker stood just off the Hornets sideline alone before the officials brought the two teams back out to the field. At the same time, the Alcorn State band and the homecoming faithful came to their feet with the noise at a fever pitch.

After a perfect snap by Garrett Shelton and hold by Anthony Craven, Hanson calmly drilled a 37-yard field goal down the middle sending Alcorn State fans to the tunnels with a hard-fought 28-25 five overtime victory by Alabama State.

The win was the fourth consecutive homecoming victory for Alabama State (2-3, 1-1 SWAC), including the third straight on the road since last season.

The Hornets quieted the crowd early in Lorman with their opening drive that 88 yards in just six plays, and was orchestrated by KHA’Darris Davis in his first collegiate start. Wallace Corker caught a second pass from Davis, made the first defender miss and raced down the sideline for a 42-yard gain and set the Hornets up at the Alcorn State 16. The very next play, Davis dropped back and hit Joe Williams IV on the same play, and Williams made the defender miss and dove into the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 12:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Alabama State wasted little time in getting on the board, doing so with 6:57 remaining in the opening quarter by using just two plays. The last was a 45-yard run up the middle by Ezra Gray for a 14-0 Alabama State lead.

After Alcorn State scored in the first to pull within a touchdown, the Braves tied it up late with a 22-yard touchdown run by De’Shawn Waller with 12:26 remaining in regulation. They had a chance to win in regulation, but a field goal by Corey McCullough, one of six missed on the day by the Braves’ kicker, was wide right.

Neither team scored in the first two overtimes, but Alcorn State struck first when Waller scored from 21 yards out and the two-point conversion was good for a 22-14 lead. However, Alabama State was able to answer with a six-yard pass from Davis to Michael Jefferson, before they tied it up on the two-point conversion pass to Tyrek Allen. The two teams traded field goals in the fourth overtime, before a McCullough miss set the stage for Hanson.

Davis finished the day 20-for-36 with one interception and 155 yards through the air, while connecting on a pair of touchdowns. Corker led the Hornets with three receptions, while five others each had a pair. Gray led the rushing attack with 78 yards on 20 carries.

Defensively, Darron Johnson led the Hornets with 14 tackles, including a tackle for loss and was in on a sack. Joshua Hill finished with 11 and Kurron Ramsey 10 in the in. Alabama State finished the night with eight tackles for loss and a sack, while also forcing three turnovers – including a pair of interceptions. They also had a goal line stand during the contest in which Alcorn State lost a yard on three plays, before fumbling the football on third down.

–Alabama State Strategic Communications

Quick hits

• There were five lead changes in the Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff game.  Trailing 20-16 at the end of the third quarter, Jackson State outscored UAPB 14-7 in the fourth quarter. 
• Jackson State’s Warren Newman caught a 72-yard winning touchdown from Jarrad Hayes with 4:49 remaining in the game to lift the Tigers (2-2, 1-1 SWAC) over the Golden Lions (1-5, 0-2 SWAC).
• Hayes completed 15-of-25 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions to lead Jackson State.  Keyshawn Harper led their rushing attack with six carries for 93 yards and scored a touchdown.
• UAPB was led by Skyler Perry, who threw for 300 yards on 27-of-41 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Taeyler Porter was the team’s bell cow with 31 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown. 
• Mississippi Valley State took the initial 14-0 lead on the road at Bethune Cookman with a 40-yard rushing touchdown from Isaiah Robinson in the first quarter.  The Delta Devils (0-4) extended their lead when Booker Chambers capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run with 11:52 left in the second quarter.  Ruben Piraquive tacked on both extra points. 
• Bethune Cookman (3-3) scored four consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter to capture a 28-14 halftime advantage and teams then traded scored in the second half. 
• Mississippi Valley State’s Tadarius Davis led the Delta Devils defensive unit with a team-high eight tackles, two forced fumbles and came up with a broken up pass. 
• Robinson (12 carries, 55 yards, TD) and Dejerric Bryant (nine carries, 52 yards, TD) led the Delta Devils rushing attack.
• Alabama A&M quarterback Aqeel Glass completed 22-of-36 passes for 215 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, Marceles Clash led with four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns while Trevon Walters was the top rusher with 10 carries for 161 yards and two scores. 
• Texas Southern signal caller Glen Cuiellette returned the starting lineup and threw for 222 yards on 21-of-46 passes and added 20 rushing yards.
• The Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) are now tied for the SWAC East Division led with Alcorn State (4-2, 2-1 SWAC).  As a team, Alabama A&M had 27 carries for 226 yards, good for an average of 8.4 yards per attempt. 
• TSU’s Tariq Buchanan led receivers with seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown while Brad Woodard led the running game with 10 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown.  The Tigers dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play. 
• Grambling State quarterback Geremy Hickbottom completed 16-of-24 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed six times for 71 yards and had three rushing touchdowns.
• Tigers wide receiver Lyndemian Brooks led with three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.
• Cecil Cherry scored Grambling State’s last touchdown on the day with a 37-yard interception return.