ATLANTA, Ga - Despite a valiant effort in which the Alcorn State University Braves overcame a 14 point deficit in the second half, the North Carolina A&T Aggies were able to defeat the Braves 41-34 in the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
The Aggies struck first on a 74-yard punt return by Khris Garden that put them up 7-0. The Braves would respond quickly when Anthony Williams Jr. took in an 84-yard punt return to put the Braves on the board. A few possessions later, Tarik Cohen weaved through the Braves' defense for a 74-yard sprint to the end zone, putting the Aggies up 14-6 in the first quarter. Cohen would score another touchdown on an 83-yard dash to add to their lead.
In the second quarter, Cory Jones' 45-yard field goal soared through the goal post and gave the Aggies a 24-6 lead. Later in the quarter, Williams intercepted a Kylil Carter pass and returned it 23 yards, which led to a 10-yard LENORRIS FOOTMAN touchdown pass to ARRON BAKER to make the score 24-13 going into the second half.
After another successful Aggies field goal attempt from 43 yards at the beginning of the third quarter, the Braves would score on a 9-yard trick pass from TOLLETTE GEORGE to Footman to decrease the Aggies' lead to seven. The Braves special teams later ended a decent Aggies drive when WARREN GATEWOOD blocked a field goal attempt that was scooped up by Williams and return to the Braves 35 yard line.
The Braves would carry their momentum into the fourth quarter. Footman's 11-yard touchdown pass to George tied the game at 27. The Aggies were able to retake the lead after Kwashaun Quick was able to score on a quarterback keeper from the 1 yard line. The Braves would get tricky again on a fake field goal attempt that resulted in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Branding Vessel to Branding Campbell to tie the game at 34. The Aggies would immediately break the tie when Cohen rushed for another 74-yard touchdown to put them back on top.
Despite a good drive by the Braves, they were unable to tie the game in the remaining seconds.
Alcorn State Team Notes
- Alcorn State won the only previous meeting versus North Carolina A&T – a 16-13 decision in 2004.
- Had not dropped a road/neutral site game since the opening week of the season – a loss at Georgia Tech on Sept. 3.
- Alcorn State's only three setbacks against FCS opponents were by a combined 14 points this season – 35-24 to Grambling State, 40-34 to Prairie View A&M and Saturday's 41-34 decision to NC A&T.
ANTHONY WILLIAMS, JR.
Alcorn State's first score of the game was an 84-yard punt return for touchdown by ANTHONY WILLIAMS, JR. ? Williams' return was a season-long punt return for Alcorn. ? That return was tied for the seventh-longest punt return in the FCS this season and the longest in the SWAC. ? Williams also recorded an interception, recovered a blocked field goal and finished the game with 4 tackles
DARRYAN RAGSDALE
Ragsdale ends the season 87 yards shy of Alcorn State's single-season rushing record of 1,286 yards. Ragsdale finished with 1,183 yards.
WARREN GATEWOOD
His blocked field goal in the third quarter was the first of his career and the third blocked kick by Alcorn State as a team this season.Head-coach Jay HopsonOpening Statement…Hard fought football game always tough to lose especially big games that are close hard fought games and I give NC A&T a lot of credit they played an exceptional football game. We were impressed with their running back, 28, he played a great game today.
On A&T's Defense…We didn't execute as well as we should have. I told our offensive line that their defensive line is the strength of their football team and they did a great job and we got to give them credit. We had our chance to take over at the end to tie the game and we fell about 4 yards short. We did some good things offensively too though. Anytime you score 34 with a chance to score 41 you can't just say, "Oh we had a horrible day on offense."
On Tarik Cohen….We've only seen someone else like him when we faced Prairie View. Tarik has tremendous talents and he made a lot of big plays, so you got to give him credit. He was certainly a difference maker in the game. I was proud of our effort. We gave ourselves a chance at the end but we just weren't able to capitalize. Tarik Cohen's speed… Quick, fast, and explosive. He has all of those things and that's about all it takes in this game. He also has really good vision and makes plays. On the last drive of the game… I thought we were going to win it on the last drive. I really did, but we didn't. I am so proud of this football team. One thing about our football team that I can say is that we are a team that you can never count out. We can be down 40 to nothing and we can still find our way. We always give ourselves a chance to win. There have been games in the past where we have been down 20, 25 even almost 30 points and then the next thing I know the last play of the game we are driving to win the ball game.
On LENORRIS FOOTMAN's second half of the game…He played better in the second half for sure. Sometimes you have good halves and bad halves, that's football, but Lenorris has been an outstanding football player for us and he did some tremendous things today in order to help us come back.
Alcorn's football season as a whole compared to other in the past…This has been an incredible year for us. Anytime you can win a conference and get a chance to play in for the national championship and be fortunate enough to win one although this year we fell short this year. At the end of the day, N.C. A&T gets all of the credit, they came out and won. It was a hard fought game between both teams. We gave the TV audience a good show and they should be happy with the Celebration Bowl. Hopefully this game will lead to bigger and better things for the Celebration Bowl and hopefully both schools did their part in making this an outstanding football game.
Players Press Conference On the Celebration Bowl experience…LENORRIS FOOTMANIt was a really good experience. Anytime you get to do something you have always dreamed of doing since you were a kid it's an amazing feeling.
WARREN GATEWOODMaking it to the Celebration Bowl is an accomplishment in itself. It was a really good experience and I'm going to take a lot from it, from going to the Civil Rights Museum to the extra bonding time I had with my brothers. It was a really good experience I'll never forget along with the lost.
On being unprepared for the game…WARREN GATEWOOD I apologize for saying unprepared. It is just tough with all of the festivities, we knew that focus would be a key to this game because focus is the key to every football game. By preparation I meant to say we didn't execute, but Coach Hopson always puts us in the best position to win week in and week out. We have to look ourselves in the mirror as a defense because a lot of times it's us, like in the first quarter we just didn't tackle. It's a lot of things that went into this lost.
Senior reflections…WARREN GATEWOOD Alcorn is a great school. I am from an urban area in Baltimore and then I moved to Chicago my senior year, so I am definitely use to the urban setting, but I was not use to the rural setting. Alcorn saved my life and it has been the best experience these past 4 years and I will never forget it.
TOLLETTE GEORGE It's just been a good journey playing for Alcorn everyone I met here I consider my family now. On HBCU experience…
Anthony Williams Jr.I tell the young kids if you want a family other than your family, come to an HBCU because we really care for each other like brothers.
LENORRIS FOOTMAN:Before I came here, I had no idea what to expect. Once I got here and got around the players, got to know the people, and the administration, I just felt so welcomed and felt at home. I am glad I had this experience.
