Football | 10/28/2016 10:43:00 AM

Division Leaders Square Off Saturday During Purple Out

Alcorn Game Notes | Braves All-Access | Live Stats

LORMAN, Miss. – Coming off a bye week, the Alcorn State University football program will return to action Saturday to face Southern as leaders from the SWAC East and West Divisions battle at 2 p.m. during a Purple Out at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
 
Alcorn (3-3, 3-2 SWAC) sits in a tie atop the SWAC East Division standings with Jackson State at 3-2. JSU hosts Prairie View A&M on Saturday. The Braves and the Tigers will meet on the final week of the season Saturday, Nov. 19 in Lorman.
 
Southern (4-2, 4-0 SWAC) is tied with Grambling State for the lead in the SWAC West Division standings. The Jaguars will travel to Grambling on Nov. 26.
 
The Braves have won two straight games. They've combined to outscore Alabama A&M and Texas Southern 34-9 in the second half without allowing a touchdown, and 27-3 in the fourth quarter.
 
Alcorn has had to overcome injuries all season long with its top passer, rusher and wide receiver all missing time. Still, junior quarterback Lenorris Footman has accounted for seven touchdowns this year with four in the air and three on the ground. He is a game time decision for Saturday along with junior running back Arron Baker and senior wide receiver Jaborian McKenzie.
 
Defensively, senior Darien Anderson ranks first in the conference, and second in FCS with 1.33 sacks per game. He trails Karter Schult (UNI) for the national lead as Schult records 1.36 sacks per outing. Anderson is also top-five in FCS and first in the SWAC in tackles for loss with 2.0 per contest.
 
The Jaguars come to Lorman on a four-game winning streak after dropping non-conference games at UL-Monroe 38-21 and Tulane 66-21.
 
The cameras will be on senior running back Lenard Tillery, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, as he needs 145 rushing yards to become the SWAC all-time leader. Tillery has rushed for 3,905 yards in his career (according to NCAA.com) and leads the league with 127.5 rushing yards per game this season (according to swac.org).
 
Nevertheless, the Jaguars have not been completely dependent on the running game as junior quarterback Austin Howard ranks second in the conference with 261.3 passing yards per game and has thrown for a league-high 16 touchdowns. His favorite target, Willie Quinn, averages 105.8 receiving yards and 6.8 receptions per outing.
 
Saturday's contest can be heard via radio on 91.7 WPRL FM with play-by-play voice Charles Edmond on the call. It can also be viewed via live stream on Braves All-Access with a subscription.
 
NOTES
- Alcorn is looking for its sixth consecutive win over the Jaguars after posting a 48-7 victory on the road last year, 56-16 win at home in 2014, 38-24 win in the SWAC Championship in 2014, 44-38 result on the road in 2013 and 20-17 decision at home in 2012.
 
- In the meeting last season, Footman ran for a career-high 274 yards. He accounted for six total touchdowns, another career-high, including four rushing and two throwing.
 
- The Braves have been honored with two SWAC Player of the Week winners after each of their last two games. After the 42-19 win over Alabama A&M, Footman was named SWAC and College Sports Madness Offensive Player of the Week, while sophomore Trae Ferrell earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week. After Alcorn defeated Texas Southern 23-20, Anderson was selected as SWAC and CSM Defensive Player of the Week, while junior De'Lance Turner was honored as the SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week winner.
 
- In Alcorn's most recent win over TXSO, the game was tied 17-17 when Turner came through with a blocked punt, followed by a rushing touchdown on the very next play to give the Braves the edge. Defensively, Anderson recorded a career-high 13 tackles to go along with his two sacks and four tackles for a loss resulting in negative 22 yards.
 
- Alcorn has been sacked just five times in six games this season. The five sacks allowed are the fewest in the conference and ranks 11th in FCS. On the flip side, the Braves defense has recorded 19 sacks - second most in the SWAC - resulting in a loss of 125 yards.
 
- Anderson was named Hero of the Week by HERO Sports on Friday, Sept. 30 after a monster performance against Grambling State which included 12 tackles and a career-high four sacks.
 
- Senior defensive back Daniel Franklin and senior linebacker Michael Hurns rank top-five in the conference in tackles with 7.3 per game apiece. Franklin wrapped up a career-high 11 tackles at No. 20 Arkansas, while Hurns recorded a career-high 12 tackles against Alabama State in the SWAC opener.
 
- McKenzie ranks top-five in the league with 6.5 receptions per game. The big-play threat averages 10.8 yards per catch and 70.0 receiving yards per game.
 
- Senior Haiden McCraney boomed a 70-yard punt earlier this year at Grambling State, which is the longest in the SWAC this season. It was the second-longest of his career after he blasted a 77-yarder last year against Concordia. McCraney ranks third in the league with 40.5 yards per punt on average.
 
- The Braves have tallied at least 155 rushing yards in five of their six games this season, including at No. 20 Arkansas. Individually, Baker leads the pack with 6.22 rushing yards per carry which ranks top-15 in FCS and second in the SWAC.
 
- Alcorn moved up a spot to No. 8 in this week's BOXTOROW HBCU Top-10 Rankings. The Braves, who have been ranked in the poll each week this year, have been as high as No. 2 this season.
 
- Alcorn revamped its locker room at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium and unveiled it before its homecoming game against Texas Southern. Renovations included new wall designs, murals on entry ways, painted logos and repainted walls, historical photos of teams and players on display and showcased helmets and jerseys.
 
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