ALCORN STATE, MS -- Homecoming 2012 was filled with initial excitement, anticipation and adrenaline. Braves fans were primed and prepped for the world's largest tailgate party and overflow crowd; well at least one of the largest on the yard since the days #9 was taking snaps under center at Henderson. The early morning air was baptized by fire; literally…..with the smoke from the grills and fryers. The atmosphere was set for one of the best trips back to the yard for alumni with the smooth sounds of “We are Family” blaring in the background; it was definitely reflective of the days of old. However, Mother Nature had a different plan as the dark clouds rolled in and it literally rained on the Braves parade.
Under what started as a mist of rain, the Braves were full of energy as they took the field. Their energy intensified as legendary crooner G.C. Cameron whined out Alcornites favorite lyrics of the national anthem…..“home of the BRAVES.” Though the Braves were excited and eager to play in the cloudburst the first quarter was all Bama State. Capitalizing off Alcorn State lack of execution and special teams mishaps Bama State crossed the plane often resulting in three first quarter touchdowns, including two in a very short time frame; twenty seconds.
A bobbled punt snap by Alcorn gave the Hornets' possession at the Braves' 17-yard line. Three plays later, Greg Jenkins fired a 19-yard touchdown pass to T.C. McWilliams in the back of the end zone to take a 7-0 lead with 7:03 to play in the opening period.
On the next play from scrimmage, Brandon Roberts forced a fumble at the Alcorn State nine-yard line that trickled into the end zone. Winton Steward recovered for a touchdown to extend the Hornets' lead to 14-0.
Alabama State's defense extended the lead late in the first quarter. Leland Baker deflected a pass that was picked off by teammate DeAndre Rashada, who returned it 16 yards for a touchdown to give the Hornets a 21-0 lead with 16 seconds to play in the quarter.
The defense came up with a fourth-down stop deep in Alabama State territory early in the second quarter, leading to a Hornet touchdown four plays later. Isaiah Crowell's career-long 61-yard touchdown run gave Alabama State a 28-0 lead with 7:44 to play until halftime. Crowell rushed 16 times for a season-high 127 yards and one touchdown.
A bobbled snap of another Alcorn punt attempt set up the Hornets' next touchdown at the Braves' seven-yard line, where RB Malcolm Cyrus' scoring run on the next play gave Alabama State a commanding 34-0 lead with just under six minutes to play in the first half.
After watching the Hornets dance in the end zone most of the first half, the Braves finally got in on the action as
Donovan Hill scored on a blocked punt return with 1:53 left before the half, with the point after no good the Braves were on the board 34-6.
Six plays and 53-yards later, with 0:11 left on the clock before the close of the first half, the Braves
Tollette George scored on a 41-yard pass from rookie quarterback
John Gibbs. With nothing to lose the Braves gamble on a two-point conversion….point after attempt is good, the Braves head into the locker down 34-14.
After ending the half on a positive note, the Braves were amped to kick-start the second half. However, they couldn't get the monkey off their backs as Bama State scored on its opening drive of the half. Jenkins completed a six-play, 63-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 41-14.
The Hornets added a pair of touchdowns less than a minute apart in the fourth quarter. Carey McKnight blocked an Alcorn punt, which was recovered by Corey Schofield in the end zone to extend the lead to 48-14 with just under 11:00 to play in the game.
To cap the night, Brandon Napier recovered a Braves fumble and returned it to the Alcorn five-yard line. Two plays later, Rodney Cross scored on two-yard run for the final score of 54-14.
The Braves gave up forty-two points inside the ten-yard line due to special teams' turnovers and inclement weather which played a major factor throughout the game on both sides of the ball.
Coach
Jay Hopson encouraged his team to stay in the game and stick with the game plan regardless of what the score board reflected.
“I am seeing some good things on offense and defense but this one is frustrating because you leave the field thinking you had a fighting chance minus the basic special teams' mistakes,” said Hopson.
The Braves are back in action next Saturday, October 6 at Spinks-Casem Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. Also, the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
