Braves Look to Knock Off NMSU on the Road
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Braves Look to Knock Off NMSU on the Road

Alcorn Game Notes | NMSU Game Notes | Live Stream | Live Radio | Live Stats

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Stepping away from conference play Saturday, the Alcorn State University football program will head to New Mexico State, an FBS opponent, for a 3 p.m. (CT) kick-off at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
 
Despite not having a conference game this weekend, Alcorn (7-2, 5-1 SWAC) can clinch the SWAC East Division if both Alabama State (2-5, 1-2 SWAC) and Jackson State (3-4, 2-2 SWAC) lose Saturday. ASU hosts Texas Southern, while JSU hosts Prairie View A&M.
 
Nevertheless, the Braves can win the division themselves by beating Jackson State on Nov. 17. It would be their fifth consecutive SWAC East Division crown. The Braves are already the first team to ever play in four consecutive SWAC Championship games and are looking to make it five.
 
Additionally, with the breaking news announced by the SWAC on Wednesday, the Braves would host the SWAC Championship game if they beat the Tigers OR if JSU, ASU and Southern all lose one more conference game. The championship game will no longer be played in Birmingham, Alabama, but rather at the highest ranked institution within the league.
 
The Alcorn defense is nationally ranked in several statistical categories and lead the FCS in both sacks per game (4.56) and tackles for a loss per game (9.7). The defense is also sixth in the country in total yards (263.1 ypg), sixth in rushing (86.7 ypg), seventh in red zone stops (.667), seventh in third down conversion (.280) and 15th in interceptions (11).
 
Junior linebacker Brelion Hollis is the reigning SWAC Defensive Player of the Week winner. He wrapped-up a career-high 12 tackles to go along with a sack and a pair of tackles for a loss. He aided Alcorn in holding the league's then leading rusher, Dawonya Tucker, to just 60 yards.
 
Offensively, junior quarterback Noah Johnson is Alcorn's leader in both passing and rushing. He's thrown for 1,451 yards and 10 touchdowns, and has rushed for 664 yards and seven touchdowns.
 
The Braves have flip-flopped between two running backs this year as junior De'Shawn Waller has rushed for 601 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior P.J. Simmons has registered 597 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Chris Blair has been the team's top target in the air with 385 yards and five touchdowns.
 
Saturday is Senior Day for the Aggies (2-7, Independent), who are FBS Independent. NMSU has wins this season over UTEP 27-20 and Liberty 49-41.
 
Linebacker Javahn Ferguson leads the nation in tackles per game with 14.1. He also has 4.5 sacks and 5.0 tackles for a loss on the year.
 
Josh Adkins is expected to get the start at quarterback. In seven games this year, he's thrown for 1,590 yards and seven touchdowns. Seven different wide receivers have caught TD passes.
 
Click here to a link of the live stream. The game can also be heard live for free via 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond as the voice of the Braves.
 
NOTES
- Saturday is just the second-ever meeting between Alcorn and NMSU. The Aggies took the first match-up 45-10 in 2008.
 
- The Braves have three wins over FBS programs in school history. The last came in 1994 when they topped Troy 47-44 with Steve McNair. Prior to that, Alcorn defeated Middle Tennessee 28-7 in 1988 and Central Michigan 24-16 in 1978.
 
- Alcorn is riding a three-game winning-streak and four in a row on the road. The Braves have gone on the road to spoil the opposing team's Homecoming three times this year at Southern, Alabama A&M and Prairie View A&M.
 
- The Braves are coming off a 27-13 victory over the Panthers to improve to 42-15 in the all-time series. The Alcorn defense did not allow a touchdown, and the Braves outgained PVAMU 512-235 in total yards and 249-61 in rushing.
 
- The Alcorn offense leads the SWAC in scoring (33.2 ppg), total offense (458.6 ypg) and rushing (272.6 ypg).
 
- The Braves are ranked No. 3 in this week's HBCU Poll and are receiving 12 votes in the FCS Coaches Poll.
 
- Junior defensive lineman Terry Whittington was nationally recognized on Oct. 22 when he won FCS Defensive Player of the Week winner. He also won HBCU National Player of the Week and SWAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. Whittington notched career-highs of 15 tackles, 6.0 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a 33-26 win over Grambling State. He came close to the single-game school record of 5.0 sacks set by Bryant Mix in 1995 against Texas Southern.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Qwynnterrio Cole has catapulted to the top of the Alcorn tackles list. He leads the Braves with 47 on the season. He recorded interceptions in back-to-back games against Southern and Alabama State, and also got one this past weekend at PVAMU. Cole has only started in four games this year.
 
- Junior Javen Morrison has been a lockdown defender for the Braves in his career and has led the team in interceptions in each of the last two seasons. He's up to nine in his career. Morrison recorded a pick-six against GSU, the second of his career.
 
- The Braves are 12-0 when leading at halftime over the last two seasons.
 
- Alcorn has won eight SWAC Player of the Week awards in nine weeks this year. In addition to Hollis and Whittington, Waller has won twice, Morrison was named both the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week and HBCU National Player of the Week after grabbing two interceptions against TSU. Junior Raidarious Anderson won SWAC Offensive Player of the Week, and senior Johnathon Hauer earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week after the win against LC. Alcorn won 10 SWAC weekly honors last season.
 
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