GSU Nips Alcorn in Overtime

GRAMBLING, La. – A defensive battle didn't end in favor of the Alcorn State University football program as Grambling State finished on top 19-16 in overtime at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.
 
The Braves (6-3, 4-1 SWAC) led 16-10 when the Tigers (5-4, 3-2 SWAC) tied the game with 1:07 left in the fourth quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass. However, the extra point was missed to keep the game tied.
 
Alcorn had a chance to win in the final seconds of regulation, but a 47-yard field goal was missed, wide right.
 
In overtime, Alcorn's defense backed GSU up for -3 yards, but Miguel Mendez was able to knock in a 45-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 19-16 edge.
 
On Alcorn's possession, the Braves moved to the GSU 13 after a 12-yard reception by freshman Niko Duffey. However, after a two-yard run, a false start penalty and a pair of incomplete passes, Alcorn was faced with a 4th-and-13. The 33-yard field goal attempt was missed, wide right to end the game.
 
Junior Felix Harper threw for 269 yards and a touchdown. Senior Raidarious Anderson hauled in a game-high 103 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Duffey rushed for a game-high 106 yards.
 
Alcorn outgained GSU 385-353 in total yards.
 
Senior Solomon Muhammad stood out on defense with 14 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss and a sack. Senior Taurence Wilson and junior Qwynnterrio Cole each recorded an interception.
 
The Tigers were forced to used two quarterbacks after Geremy Hickbottom was disqualified late in the third quarter. He threw for 157 yards and touchdown. Charles Wright came in as the back-up and threw for 63 yards and the touchdown that tied it 16-16.
 
PLAY-BY-PLAY SUMMARY
Both teams punted on their first two possessions as the game started slow. The Braves started moving it late in the first after a 29-yard completion to Anderson placed the ball at the GSU 11. The Braves settled for a 20-yard field goal as senior Corey McCullough drilled it in to give Alcorn a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
 
The Tigers started their ensuing possession with great field position at the Alcorn 47 after a big return by Jakari Nichols, bundled with a 15-yard sideline interference called on the Braves. GSU advanced to the GSU 15 after a 15-yard completion to Lyndon Rash, but were stopped there. Mendez evened the score 3-3 with a 32-yard field goal at the 11:39 mark in the second.
 
GSU stopped Alcorn defensively and then blocked a punt to setup at the Alcorn 11. The Tigers took the lead 10-3 on an 11-yard pass on the back-left corner.
 
Late in the half, the Braves were on the move after Duffey broke lose for a 31-yard run. Harper connected with Anderson for 17 yards to get into the red zone, and scored on a 19-yard pass to Anderson to knot it up 10-10 going into the break.
 
The Tigers had the ball first in the second half, but after a defensive stop, junior LeCharles Pringle busted out a 53-yard punt return to the GSU 17. After two incomplete passes and a sack, McCullough put the Braves back on top 13-10 with a 40-yard field goal.
 
The Braves got the ball again after an interception by Cole, and he returned it 23 yards to the GSU 47. Alcorn tallied three more points off the turnover on a 41-yard field goal by McCullough and were in front 16-10 with 1:34 remaining in the third.
 
A key moment happened early in the fourth quarter. With the Braves up by six, GSU muffed a punt that was recovered by Alcorn at the GSU 19. However, the Braves were called for fair-catch interference and the Tigers were awarded the ball, plus 15 yards.
 
After defensive stops both ways, the Tigers took over at their own 20 with 3:51 to go in the game. A 15-yard personal foul on Alcorn was followed by a 13-yard run by Wright to place the ball at the 50. Wright connected with Donald Johnson for 11 yards, and a few plays later found Kobe' Ross for a 29-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed, wide right.
 
The Braves had one last chance at the end of regulation. After a celebration penalty on Alcorn, senior Javen Morrison ran the kickoff back to the Alcorn 49. Alcorn was setup at the GSU 30 with 14 seconds left after a few short passes. However, the field goal attempt was missed.
 
GSU had the ball first, but went the wrong direction after Muhammad stopped the run for a three-yard loss, and a pair of passes fell incomplete. Though, Mendez connected on a 45-yarder to put GSU ahead 19-16.
 
On Alcorn's possession, the Braves moved the chains on a 12-yard catch by Duffey to the GSU 13. However, they got backed up on a false start penalty and couldn't punch it in. On fourth down, the 33-yard field goal was no good.
 
The Braves will return home next weekend for Senior Day as they host Alabama A&M at 2 p.m. at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. Alcorn has beaten AAMU five years in a row.
 
NOTES
- Alcorn saw its five-game winning-streak come to an end. The Braves had also won seven straight games against SWAC West Division opponents.
 
- Fred McNair is now 20-8 in his career against the SWAC.
 
- The Braves entered the game leading the SWAC in scoring defense (19.9 ppg). They were just under after limiting GSU to 19 points.
 
- With three field goals in the game, McCullough upped his career total to 43, which are the most in school history.
 
- Muhammad entered the game ranked 23rd in the nation in solo tackles with 5.0 per game. That number will shoot up after wrapping-up 12 solo tackles in the contest.
 
- Alcorn's captains were McCullough and seniors Darrell Henderson and Michael Ajumobi. The Braves won the coin toss and chose to receive.
 
Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair
Opening Statement
"This was a tough loss for us against a tough Grambling team. I credit Grambling for making enough plays to win the ball game, and we obviously didn't do enough. We didn't finish drives and we threw interceptions in the red zone. We couldn't sustain drives and that cost us the ball game. We fought hard, but we gave up two touchdowns and there's a lot of things that we need to clean-up. We have to be able to execute, but we didn't do a good job of it today."
 
On what GSU's defense was doing that gave Alcorn's offense trouble
"They're big and tall, and batted a few balls down, but Felix also missed a lot of throws. We had some open guys, but didn't make the play. We ran the ball well at times, and we threw the ball well at times, but we made too many mistakes."
 
On Alcorn's defense holding GSU's offense in-check
"Our defense played an outstanding game. Other than giving up those two big touchdowns, our defense made a lot of great stops. We wanted to create some turnovers and we came up with a pair of interceptions. For the most part, the defense played a solid ball game."
 
On what the message was to the team after the game
"We have to execute better. There's a lot of basic, fundamental stuff that we need to address. We made too many mental mistakes and it resulted in a lot of penalties. We were playing behind the chains too much and we couldn't sustain drives or overcome those mistakes. We as coaches have to do a better job of getting the team prepared."
 
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