Football | 11/3/2017 8:29:00 AM

Braves Host AAMU for Pivotal SWAC East Match-Up on Military/Service Workers Day

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LORMAN, Miss. – Having not lost to a SWAC East Division opponent in over two seasons, the Alcorn State University football program will have its streak put to the test Saturday when it hosts Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
 
Alcorn (5-3, 3-1 SWAC) will honor active military, veterans and civil service employees for their sacrifices to ensure the country's freedom and safety. Click here to read more.
 
Veteran Eddie Hargrove, a Navy serviceman, will serve as an Honorary Captain for the Braves.
 
Alcorn and AAMU (3-5, 3-2 SWAC) are neck-and-neck in the division standings. The Braves currently hold a 0.5 game lead, but the head-to-head tiebreaker could become the most important factor.
 
The Braves have won nine consecutive games against SWAC East foes. They are 1-0 against the division this year with a 24-10 road victory over Alabama State on Oct. 5.
 
Junior running back De'Lance Turner is chasing history as he needs 392 more rushing yards to break the single-season school record of 1,286 set by Rodney Thomas in 1998. Turner ranks 10th all-time in Alcorn history for career rushing yards with 1,660. Additionally, Turner is second in the nation (FCS) in total rushing yards with 894.
 
Also making a mark in the Alcorn record book, senior quarterback Lenorris Footman ranks No. 6 all-time in school history in career rushing yards with 1,964. He's also seventh in career touchdown passes (30) and ninth in career passing yards (3,927). This season, Footman leads the SWAC in total offense with 251.1 yards per game. He's second in both passing (194.5 ypg) and pass efficiency (137.6).
 
As a team, the Braves rank first in the conference in total offense (431.1 ypg), rushing offense (209.2 ypg), first downs (20.2 per game), third down conversions (45.0%) and red zone defense (63.6%). The red zone defense percentage also ranks top-five in the FCS, while the third down conversions and rushing offense are top-20.
 
The Bulldogs have conference wins this season over Texas Southern 30-13, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 27-14 and Mississippi Valley State 49-14. They are coming off a tough 21-16 defeat to Alabama State this past weekend in the Magic City Classic.
 
AAMU features a defense that leads the SWAC in fewest yards allowed with 320.1 per game. The Bulldogs are second in the league with 22 sacks and are paced by Vernon Moland who has five.
 
Offensively, the Bulldogs have used three different quarterbacks. Freshman Aqeel Glass leads the team with 861 passing yards and three touchdowns, but didn't play against the Hornets. Isaiah Bailey is the top receiving threat with 306 yards and four touchdowns.
 
The game can be watched on Braves All-Access with a subscription. It can also be heard for free on 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond as the voice of the Braves.
 
NOTES
- The Braves are looking for their fourth straight win over Alabama A&M. Alcorn has scored at least 40 points during the streak including a 42-19 result last season, 44-10 in 2015 and 41-14 in 2014.
 
- Alcorn sits at No. 4 in this week's BOXTOROW HBCU Coaches Poll. The Braves are second among SWAC teams behind Grambling State which is No. 2.
 
- The Braves are 72-52 all-time at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium which is in its 26th season (first year was 1992).
 
- Senior wide receiver Norlando Veals leads the SWAC in receiving yards with 74.9 per game, and is second in receptions per game with 4.4. Veals and Turner have each caught three touchdown passes this year.
 
- Junior wide receiver Marquis Warford is a threat on both kick and punt returns. He leads the conference in punt return average and ran one back for 72 yards for a score against Miles College. Warford is also top-five in the league in all-purpose yards with 118.6 per outing.
 
- Sophomore Corey McCullough, who is both the kicker and punter, is second in the SWAC with 10 field goals made this year. He's chasing the single-season school record of 13 set by Wilfredo Rosales in 1980 and David McConnell in 2003. McCullough ranks second in the conference in punting average (41.9 yards) and points per game (7.1).
 
- Six different receivers have caught touchdown passes for Alcorn this season and 14 student-athletes have at least one reception.
 
- The Braves have been using a two-quarterback system over their last two games. Sophomore Noah Johnson has thrown for 212 yards and a touchdown this year.
 
- Alcorn has been without its leading tackler sophomore Solomon Muhammad for the last three games. His status is for Saturday is a game-time decision.
 
- The Braves have won seven SWAC Player of the Week awards in seven weeks this year. Turner has won two Offensive Player of the Week awards, Footman has won once, Warford earned Special Teams Player of the Week and junior Isiah Thomas, junior Trae Ferrell and Muhammad each won Defensive Player of the Week.
 
- In the only meeting against a SWAC East Division opponent so far this year, Alcorn defeated Alabama State 24-10. Footman accounted for all three touchdowns with two on the ground and one in the air to Veals. Alcorn led 24-0 at half and held a 330-10 edge in total offense at that point. Alcorn beat the Hornets for the fourth straight year, and Alabama State has been held to under 20 points in every game during the streak.
 
- In Alcorn's last home game, the Braves trailed Prairie View A&M 14-0 in the first quarter when they came back to score 34 unanswered points for a victory on homecoming. Alcorn used both of its quarterbacks as Footman and Johnson combined for four total touchdowns. The Braves improved to 41-15 all-time against PVAMU with a point differential of 1673-996 (+677).
 
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