HUNTSVILLE, AL –Alcorn State fans it was another Saturday of faith, family, fans and football as the Braves traveled to the rolling hills of Huntsville, AL to the take on the undefeated Bulldogs of Alabama A&M University! It's a gorgeous day on the Hill as the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M welcomed your Alcorn State Braves to Louis Crews Stadium for Homecoming 2012. This series dates back to 1938 with Alcorn taking home a 19-6 victory, however, Alabama A&M leads the series 15-7. The last time Alcorn won in Huntsville was 2010 by a margin of 41-24 prior to raining on the Bulldogs parade today with a 21-20 win after a perfect start on the season.
The first quarter of action was plagued with penalties and an early scoring drive by the Bulldogs as the Braves struggled to gain momentum. After the opening drive interception by
Jamison Knox (his first of the year) the Braves looked to be off to an exciting start. However, it was the Bulldogs that jumped out to an early lead lighting up the score board with 7:32 in the first quarter with a touchdown by Reshaad DeJarnett. To end the quarter the Braves put together an impressive scoring drive of their own lead by freshman quarterback
John Gibbs and sophomore running back
Anthony Williams III…..making way for senior running back
Arnold Walker to pound his way into the end zone to knot the game at 7-7.
The second quarter proved to be a defensive showdown. With loud chants of “give that dog a bone” echoing throughout the stadium, the Bulldogs defense swarmed the Braves offense every possession seeking whom they could devour. Yet, the Braves defensive unit held their own…holding the Bulldogs to 3 and out to open the second quarter. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs d-unit was definitely no joke as they returned the favor and held the Braves to a 3 and out as well. A&M went up early in the second with a 22 yard field goal by Chance Wilson at the 7:57 mark. However, the Braves turned what looked like a momentum shift by the Bulldogs into a quick seven points with a 66 yard interception return by sophomore
Devon Francois; a one-way ticket to the end zone to put the Braves up 14-10 with 4:04 left in the first half. The Braves defense silenced the critics and the crowd holding a usually explosive Alabama A&M to ten points in the first half.
A usually poised
Jay Hopson rendered an electrifying halftime speech to the team simply reminding them that they deserved to be here and to win. The biggest elephant in the room was EXECUTION….a word that has been a major part to the Braves pedigree the entire season.
The Bulldogs opened up the second half with a long scoring drive of nine plays for eighty yards in 3:23 as Kaderius Lacey's 39 yard run at the 8:29 mark put the Bulldogs on top for a 17-14 lead. Not to be out shined; Gibbs struck out with one of his own. Sticking with the quick feet and amazing hands of
Tavoris Doss, with an unbelievable…indescribable catch, he goes for a bomb to the end zone putting ASU up 21-17 with 5:30 left in the quarter.
The Braves welcomed the fourth quarter with all 4's in the air signifying not only the start of the 4
th quarter but the beginning of what could be a winning streak for Alcorn State. As in the previous quarters the Bulldogs got on the board first this time they took a “chance” on the foot of Chance Wilson with a 39 yard field goal using 6:24 to add three to the Bulldogs deficit (21-20). After a pass interference penalty shaping up to break the Braves the defense rallied and made some big plays to hold off the Bulldogs in their quest to remain undefeated on the season.
“It was a great win for us…every time you can step on the field and get better and come out with a win in a hostile playing environment, it's always a good thing” said Hopson.
With the upset of the conference in tow, the Braves move on to 3-4 overall and 3-2 in the conference with a final score of 21-20 from the “Hill”.
The Braves are back in action next weekend as they travel to Houston, TX to take on the Panthers of Prairie View A&M University.
