Football | 12/23/2018 10:57:00 AM

Football Final Season Notes

Final Notes (PDF) | 2018 All-Conference | 2018 HBCU All-America | SWAC Champions

- Alcorn won its 16th conference championship in school history and the third in the last five years. The Braves are the five-time defending SWAC East Division champions.
 
- The Braves played in the Black College National Championship against North Carolina A&T. It was Alcorn's second appearance in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. The Braves trimmed a 17-3 deficit to 24-22 when a controversial two-point conversion call didn't go their way and ended up being the difference. The Braves outgained the Aggies 451-324 in total offense including a large advantage of 328-38 on the ground.
 
- Alcorn became the first-ever institution to host a SWAC Championship game, and also the first school to play in five consecutive SWAC title games. The Braves defeated Southern 37-28 after shutting out the Jaguars 10-0 in the fourth quarter.
 
- The Braves outscored the opposition 102-42 in the fourth quarter on the year.
 
- Junior quarterback Noah Johnson, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, was named the SWAC Championship Offensive MVP. Johnson was one of four finalists for the HBCU Player of the Year award and one of 25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, distributed to the best player in FCS. Additionally, Johnson was one of four finalists for the C Spire Conerly Trophy which was awarded to the best player in the state of Mississippi.
 
- Alcorn dominated the All-Conference teams and won three of the individual awards. Fred McNair won Coach of the Year, Johnson earned Offensive Player of the Year and junior running back De'Shawn Waller was tabbed the Newcomer of the Year. Alcorn won three individual awards (Coach, Offensive and Newcomer) in the same season for the first time since 1992 when Steve McNair won Offensive, Marcus Hinton won Newcomer and Cardell Jones won Coach.
 
- Of the league-leading 12 All-Conference honorees from Alcorn, 10 were named to the First-Team. It was the most First-Team selections for the Braves since 1977. Along with Johnson and Waller on the First-Team were offensive linemen Chris McCrea, Kevin Hall and Mustaffa Ibrahim, defensive linemen Terry Whittington and Sterling Shippy, linebacker Solomon Muhammad and defensive backs Javen Morrison and Qwynnterrio Cole. Alcorn was represented on the Second-Team by offensive lineman Deonte Brooks and tight end Jaquaveon Boles.
 
- The Braves earned six HBCU All-Americans including three offensive linemen. The selections included McCrea, Hall, Ibrahim, Waller, Whittington and Cole. In addition to the six selections, Johnson and Muhammad were tabbed as Honorable Mentions. Alcorn's six HBCU All-Americans were the most in school history since the award started in 2014. The Braves tied for the most selections of any school this year with North Carolina A&T.
 
- Shippy earned a spot on the AFCA All-America Second-Team. The leader of the Alcorn defense, Shippy was named a Team Captain in 12 of 13 games. He played a big role in the Braves leading the nation in both sacks and tackles for a loss. Shippy ended the year with 38 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 14.5 tackles for a loss.
 
- Waller was named to the STATS FCS All-America Third-Team.  He started the season as the No. 3 running back on the depth chart and became a starter in the seventh game of the season. He ended with 1,215 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Waller finished eighth in the nation in rushing yards per game (121.5 ypg), 15th in total rushing yards, 19th in all-purpose yards per game (133.0), 19th in rushing yards per carry (6.5), 20th in rushing TD's, 23rd in scoring (7.8 pg) and 25th in total touchdowns (13).
 
- Cole was named to the HERO Sports Sophomore All-America Team. He catapulted to the top of the Alcorn tackles list with a team-high 77. Cole also recorded 4.5 tackles for a loss, three interceptions a forced fumble and recovered a fumble. Like Waller, Cole started low on the depth chart and had to work his way into the top spot. He only started in seven games at various defensive back positions including both cornerback and safety.
 
- The Alcorn defense ranked first in the FCS in both sacks per game (4.0) and tackles for a loss per game (9.5). The defense was also third in the country in rushing (91.2 ypg), eighth in total defense (291.4 ypg), 10th in red zone defense (.714), 18th in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 22nd in third down percentage defense (.324) and 24th in interceptions (14).
 
- The Braves held the opposition to three points or less three times. The defense didn't allowed a touchdown in four games (against Prairie View A&M, the only touchdown came on a special teams play).
 
- Alcorn led the SWAC in total offense (473.3 ypg), total defense (291.4 ypg), scoring defense (21.5 ppg), rushing (285.8 ypg), rushing defense (91.2 ypg), interceptions (14), sacks (4.0 s/pg), tackles for a loss (9.5 tfl/g) , first downs (23.2 pg), fewest first downs allowed (16.2 pg) and time of possession (32:42).
 
- In three seasons, Johnson ranks eighth all-time in school history in touchdown passes (30), ninth in passing yards (4,018) and 10th in rushing yards (1,867). This year, he threw for 2,207 yards and 15 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,080 yards and 11 touchdowns. Johnson ranked third in the nation in rushing yards per carry (7.5) and 16th in completion percentage (.621).
 
- Waller rushed for at least 100 yards in seven of the last eight games including the SWAC Championship where he tallied a game-high 177 yards and three touchdowns. He broke loose for an 83-yard touchdown run which was the second-longest in the history of the SWAC Championship game. Waller followed it up by running for a game-high 167 yards in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
 
- Junior kicker/punter Corey McCullough very quietly had a historic season. He tied the school's all-time record for field goals made with 34. He has one season remaining to pull ahead of Wilfredo Rosales who made 34 field goals from 1977-80. Additionally, McCullough tied his own single-season school record of 17 made field goals this year.
 
- Morrison led Alcorn in interceptions for the third consecutive year. He has 10 on his career with four this year including one in the SWAC Championship. Morrison ran back his second career pick-six earlier this season against Grambling State.
 
- Junior linebacker Brelion Hollis was tabbed the SWAC Championship Defensive MVP. He led the Braves with seven tackles including 0.5 sacks. Alcorn sacked SU quarterback Ladarius Skelton six times. Hollis also wrapped-up a game-high 10 tackles in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
 
- Whittington was nationally recognized on Oct. 22 when he won FCS Defensive Player of the Week. 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.
 
- The Braves are 13-0 when leading at halftime over the last two seasons.
 
- Alcorn finished 5-1 at home this year and is 79-53 all-time in Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium after 27 seasons.
 
- The Braves ended at No. 2 in the HBCU Poll. They also received 127 votes in the FCS Top-25.
 
- Alcorn won 10 SWAC Player of the Week awards for the second straight year. Whittington, Hollis and Morrison won Defensive Player of the Week. Waller won Newcomer of the Week three times. Johnson and junior Raidarious Anderson each won Offensive Player of the Week. McCullough and senior Johnathon Hauer have earned Special Teams Player of the Week.
 
- The Braves went 5-0 against teams from the SWAC West Division this year and are 14-2 against SWAC East Division opponents over the last four seasons.
 
Previous Game Summaries
- The Braves trailed Southern 28-27 in the SWAC Championship game when McCullough nailed a 41-yard field goal to give them a 30-28 lead with 11:31 left in the fourth quarter. The Braves put the game away with a 14-yard touchdown run by Waller with 3:47 remaining. Alcorn outgained the Jaguars 518-347 in total offense including 370-123 in rushing. The Braves improved to 38-27-2 all-time against SU and have won six of the last seven meetings.
 
- Despite Alcorn and Southern both having 6-1 SWAC records, the Braves held the tiebreaker for home field after winning the regular season match-up 20-3. The Braves spoiled Southern's Homecoming. Alcorn limited the Jaguars to just 139 yards of offense, including 76 passing and 63 rushing yards. Cole registered a pick-six.

- Alcorn clinched both home field for the title game and the SWAC East Division after blanking Jackson State in the second half for a 24-3 victory. The go-ahead touchdown came on the opening series of the second half on an eight-yard run by senior P.J. Simmons. The Braves also scored on a 47-yard reception by freshman Juan Anthony and a 31-yard pick-six by junior Taurence Wilson. The Braves out-gained the Tigers 394-195 in total offense, including a 217-92 edge in rushing. Alcorn also controlled the clock with a 35:06-24:54 advantage in time of possession.
 
- The Braves gave New Mexico State a scare after cutting a 35-7 deficit to 38-35 with 10:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. Waller ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns.
 
- Alcorn defeated Prairie View A&M 27-13 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.
 
- In the win over Grambling State, the Braves scored the game-winning touchdown with 12 seconds left on a pass to senior Chris Blair. Alcorn sacked the Tigers eight times.
 
- The Braves posted a 35-26 victory over Alabama A&M to spoil their second of three Homecomings. Alcorn broke a 10-10 tie at half with an explosive second to win its fifth straight over AAMU. Johnson ran for the longest touchdown in school history with a 92-yarder. It broke De'Lance Turner's 88-yarder against Miles College last season.
 
- The Braves dropped a five-overtime marathon against Alabama State 28-25. Alcorn held an edge of 530-240 in total yards and 408-85 in rushing. The Braves had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but a 28-yard field goal attempt was no good, wide-right. It was the first five-overtime game in FCS since Oct. 4, 2014 between Davidson and Dayton.
 
- Alcorn opened conference play with a 56-20 win over Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 22. The Braves held a 665-200 edge in total yards and 462-22 in rushing. Simmons rushed for a career-high 210 yards and a touchdown. The Braves won their sixth straight game over the Delta Devils and lead the all-time series 45-15-1. Alcorn has outscored MVSU 318-78 over the last six games.
 
- The Braves tallied a 27-15 victory over Texas Southern in a non-conference game. Alcorn raced out to a 27-0 halftime lead which was too much for the Tigers to overcome. The Braves posted their seventh straight win over TSU in the series. Anderson turned in a career game with eight catches for 168 yards and a touchdown. He accounted for more-than half of Alcorn's passing yards in the win.
 
- In Alcorn's home-opener, the team broke a Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium scoring record by defeating Louisiana College 78-0. It was the second-most lopsided score in school history, only behind a 101-0 victory over Paul Quinn in 1967. Alcorn won its home opener for the sixth year in a row.
 
- The Braves opened the 2018 season at Georgia Tech. Alcorn forced three turnovers in the game as Hollis and freshman Keyron Kinsler scooped up fumbles, while Wilson grabbed an interception.
 
Coming Into 2018
- Johnson took over the starting role at quarterback after seeing significant playing time over the last two seasons. He led the team in scoring in 2016 with 60 points after throwing for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushing for 440 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season, Johnson threw for 782 yards and four touchdowns, and rushed for 333 yards and six touchdowns.
 
- Alcorn made a splash hire over the summer with the addition of quarterbacks coach Pat White. WVNews reported that White is arguably the best quarterback to ever play at WVU. He's a two-time Big East Player of the Year winner and was a Heisman candidate in both 2007 and 2008. The superstar quarterbacked the Mountaineers to a 42-9 record in four years. White and Alcorn's offensive coordinator Ryan Stanchek were teammates at WVU from 2004 to 2008, playing on four winning bowl teams. It included BCS victories in the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Stanchek was an offensive lineman that blocked for White.
 
- White was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame earlier this season. He was not present for his induction when the Mountaineers hosted Kansas State since he was with the Braves at MVSU. White's brother Coley was be present on his behalf.
 
- The Braves promoted Stanchek to offensive coordinator and Cedric Thornton to defensive coordinator during the offseason. Stanchek previously worked as both the run game coordinator and offensive line coach at Alcorn, while Thornton was the Braves linebacker coach.
 
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