Football | 9/7/2017 12:33:00 PM

Braves Head to Birmingham for Neutral Site Affair with FIU

Alcorn Game Notes | FIU Game Notes | Live Radio

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In what was originally supposed to be a road game in Miami, the Alcorn State University football program will travel to Legion Field for a neutral site contest against Florida International University at 6 p.m. Friday.

The game can be heard live via radio on WPRL 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond as the voice of the Braves.
 
Both parking and admission to the contest is free of charge. The ticket office at Alcorn will refund tickets to those who purchased from the Alcorn ticket office. For refunds, please contact the Alcorn Ticket Office at 601-877-6818, 6822, or 6823. The deadline for refunds is Sept. 15, 2017.
 
The game was moved away from Miami and rescheduled from Saturday to Friday due to Hurricane Irma.
 
The Braves (1-0) opened the season last weekend with a 50-21 victory over Miles College. Alcorn scored six touchdowns; senior Lenorris Footman accounted for three of them with two on the ground and one in the air. Alcorn held a large advantage in total offense, 614-251 including a 300-82 edge in passing yards.
 
Senior running back De'Lance Turner is the reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Week winner. He rushed for a career-high 131 yards and averaged 14.6 yards per carry. Turner scored a rushing and a receiving touchdown and tallied 169 all-purpose yards. His 88-yard TD run was the longest in school history; the previous record was 85 yards by Gregory Jones in 1980 and Darryan Ragsdale in 2015.
 
Junior wide receiver Marquis Warford is the reigning SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week honoree. He posted a 72-yard punt return touchdown and notched a career-high 190 all-purpose yards. The 2015 SWAC Newcomer of the Year also hauled in 69 receiving yards.
 
On defense, sophomore Solomon Muhammad recorded a team-high 10 tackles. He also forced a fumble which led to an Alcorn touchdown on the very next play. Muhammad's 10 tackles doubled his previous career-high of five set at Alabama A&M last season.
 
The Panthers (0-1) are coming off a tough 61-17 season-opening loss to UCF on Aug. 31 in Orlando.
 
Quarterback Alex McGough threw for 201 yards on 18-of-29 passing with one touchdown and one interception. Defensively, Treyvon Williams led the team in tackles with 14, including eight solo. Bryce Canady and Shermarke Spence each recorded seven tackles, with Spence recording an interception, the second of his career.
 
NOTES
- Friday marks the first-ever meeting between Alcorn and FIU. The Braves are looking for their first win over an FBS opponent since 1994 when the team, quarterbacked by Steve McNair, beat Troy 47-44. Alcorn also has FBS wins over Middle Tennessee (28-7 in 1988) and Central Michigan (24-16 in 1978).
 
- The Braves are looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2010.
 
- In the win over Miles, Footman moved up to No. 11 all-time in career rushing in school history with 1,614 yards, surpassing Smith Reed (1961-64). Footman is also No. 11 in career touchdown passes with 22 and 13th in career passing yards with 2,634.
 
- Alcorn is the three-time defending SWAC East Division champion and was picked to win the division again in the 2017 Preseason Poll. The Braves have gone undefeated against SWAC East Division opponents in back-to-back seasons.
 
- The Braves are ranked No. 8 BOXTOROW Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Coaches Poll.
 
- Alcorn's win over Miles College marked its fifth consecutive victory in a home opener. The Braves have scored at least 50 points three times during the streak.
 
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