Football Final 2019 Season Notes
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Football Final 2019 Season Notes

Final Notes (PDF) | 2019 All-Conference | 2019 HBCU All-America | SWAC Champions

- By defeating Southern 39-24 in the 2019 Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship, the Braves won their 17th conference championship in school history, second in a row and the fourth in the last six years. It was the 99th season of football at Alcorn.
 
- Alcorn is the only institution to ever host a SWAC Championship, and did so for the second year in a row. The Braves are the six-time reigning SWAC East Division champions, and the only team to ever play in six consecutive SWAC title games.
 
- The Braves played in their second consecutive Celebration Bowl, and third in the five-year history of the bowl. Alcorn's 44 points were the most it's ever scored in a postseason bowl or playoff game. The program's previous high was 36 points in the 1968 Orange Blossom Classic.
 
- The Braves posted their first 7-0 home season in Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium history. It was their fifth undefeated home season in the stadium and first since 2002. Alcorn will carry-over a 10-game home winning-streak into next season, which is the fifth-longest active streak in FCS. Alcorn is 86-53 all-time at the stadium in 28 seasons.
 
- Alcorn ranked No. 3 in the final national HBCU Coaches Poll, by BOXTOROW.
 
- Fred McNair, the two-time reigning SWAC Coach of the Year winner, completed his fourth season as head coach. The Braves have won the SWAC East Division and played in the SWAC Championship all four years under McNair, and won the last two SWAC Championships. He carries a 22-8 SWAC record.
 
- The Braves outscored the opposition 112-63 in the fourth quarter this year. It came after they outscored the opposition 102-42 in the fourth quarter in 2018.
 
- Alcorn led the FCS in both interceptions (21) and turnovers gained (36). In the SWAC Championship, the Braves forced six turnovers including three interceptions. Additionally, Alcorn ranked third in the FCS in fourth down conversion percentage (.800), fourth in fumbles recovered (15), sixth in kick return defense (15.53 yards), 7th in turnover margin (+0.92) and 7th in red zone defense (.689).
 
- In addition to those categories, Alcorn led the SWAC in total defense (354.3 ypg).
 
- Alcorn has won 21 straight games when leading at halftime.
 
- Junior Felix "Triggerman" Harper, the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, ended the year with 2,954 yards, 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions passing, and six rushing touchdowns. He took over as the starter after senior Noah Johnson, the SWAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, went down with an injury in the third game at McNeese State. Harper won three SWAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. He was named the HBCU National Player of the Week winner after the win over Prairie View A&M where he threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for a score. Harper also earned a helmet sticker on ESPN College Football Final after the win over Savannah State.
 
- Harper ranked fourth in the FCS in passing TDs (33), fifth in points responsible for (19.7 ppg), seventh in passing efficiency (160.7), eighth in yards per completion (14.5) and ninth in yards per pass attempt (8.7).
 
- Harper is one of four finalists for the HBCU Player of the Year award. He was also a finalist for the C Spire Conerly Trophy, which went to the best player in the state of Mississippi. The HBCU award winner will be announced on February 22, 2020 at the 11th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Ga.
 
- Senior wide receiver LeCharles Pringle was named the SWAC Championship Offensive MVP. He hauled in a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown. Pringle tied the school's all-time record for touchdown catches in a season with 14, which also ranked fourth in the FCS. It matched Tim McNair Sr.'s mark set in 1994 with Steve McNair at quarterback.
 
- The SWAC Championship Defensive MVP went to junior defensive back Juwan Taylor. He matched his career-high with 11 tackles and also tallied an interception, forced fumble and tackle for a loss. Taylor led the team in tackles with 89 on the year, including a team-high nine in the Celebration Bowl.
 
- Senior Solomon Muhammad, an All-Conference First-Team selection, was second on the team in tackles with 87. He also had a team-high 11 tackles for a loss, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Muhammad was named to the STATS FCS All-America Third-Team.
 
- Freshman Niko Duffey, a HERO Sports Freshman All-American, was the team's leading rusher with 838 yards and six touchdowns. He and senior De'Shawn Waller flip-flopped in the starting running back role due to injuries to both student-athletes. Both of them played in the SWAC Championship and combined for 115 yards and a touchdown.
 
- Junior long snapper Colten Menges earned a spot on the HERO Sports All-America Third-Team. He committed no turnovers on the year.
 
- Junior Qwynnterrio Cole, an All-Conference First-Team honoree, led the defense with five interceptions on the year and was third in tackles with 86.
 
- Senior Corey McCullough, the kicker and punter, finished as the all-time leader in field goals made in school history with 45. He also ended as No. 3 all-time in punting yards with 7,483. McCullough made the go-ahead field goal, a 23-yarder, in the SWAC Championship to put Alcorn up 25-24.
 
- Senior Chris Blair ranked sixth in the nation in yards per reception (21.2). The big-play threat was the team's leading receiver with 931 yards on the year and hauled in seven touchdowns. He saved his best for last with a career-high 150 yards and a score in the Celebration Bowl.
 
- Senior Darrell Henderson was named a Team Captain in all 13 games this year. As the leader of the defense, he wrapped-up 43 tackles and 8.0 tackles for a loss.
 
- The Braves continued their dominance over the league. They are 18-2 against the SWAC East Division over the last five seasons and were a perfect 4-0 this year. The Braves have won eight of their last nine games against SWAC West Division opponents.
 
- As a team, Alcorn won 12 SWAC Player of the Week awards this year. Harper has won SWAC Offensive Player of the Week three times, while McCullough won SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week three times. Muhammad won SWAC Defensive Player of the Week twice, Taylor once and junior Malik Holbert once. Duffey won SWAC Newcomer of the Week twice.
 
- Alcorn landed six student-athletes on the All-Conference Teams. Harper, Muhammad, Cole and senior Michael Ajumobi were tabbed to the first team. McCullough and senior Kevin Hall earned spots on the Second-Team.
 
- The Braves announced their 2020 schedule. It includes non-conference games against Auburn, Fort Valley State and Virginia-Lynchburg. The SWAC will play an eight-game conference schedule.
 
GAME-BY-GAME SUMMARIES
- Alcorn got in a shootout with North Carolina A&T in the Celebration Bowl. The game featured 1,034 combined yards of total offense. Alcorn was playing catch-up for most of the way, but showed no quit. The Braves scored five touchdowns in the second half to keep within striking distance.
 
- The Braves trailed Southern 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter of the SWAC Championship when they outscored the Jaguars 23-7 in the final frame. Alcorn has now won 10 of the last 11 games against SU. It includes wins in the 2014, 2018 & 2019 SWAC Championships. Alcorn is 40-27-2 all-time against the Jaguars.
 
- The Braves crushed their rival Jackson State 41-6 on the road. The win secured home field advantage for the SWAC Championship. Alcorn raced out to a 31-0 halftime lead and limited the Jaguars to just six rushing yards in the game. Harper threw for 274 yards and four touchdowns, and also rushed for a touchdown.
 
- In a game that featured over 1,000 yards of combined total offense, it was the Alcorn defense that made a stand in the very end to beat Alabama A&M 34-28. The Braves got a stop when AAMU had the ball on the 14 yard-line with four seconds left. The win clinched the East Division for Alcorn. The Braves beat the Bulldogs for the sixth year in a row to tie the all-time series 12-12.
 
- Alcorn was edged 19-16 by Grambling State in overtime. The Braves outgained the Tigers in 385-353 in total yards. Alcorn had a chance to win at the end of regulation but missed a 47-yard field goal. Senior Raidarious Anderson hauled in a game-high 103 receiving yards and a touchdown.
 
- In the regular season meeting against Southern, the Braves erased a 6-3 halftime deficit with 24 unanswered points. Harper was 19-of-26 passing for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Blair was his leading receiver with 108 yards, including a 69-yard reception. On the ground, Waller rushed for a game-high 81 yards.
 
- The Braves defeated Savannah State 42-17 on Homecoming. Harper threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns. Alcorn won its 14th consecutive game against a non-Division I opponent.
 
- The Braves brought the thunder to Montgomery and electrified Alabama State 35-7 after a four hour lightning delay. Alcorn jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Duffey rushed for a game-high 101 yards and a touchdown. Alcorn outrushed Alabama State 213-67.
 
- The Braves posted a 45-19 over Mississippi Valley State for their seventh straight win in the series. Alcorn overcame five lost fumbles to score the final 21 points of the game and pull away from MVSU in the second half.
 
- Alcorn opened conference play with a 45-41 shootout victory over Prairie View A&M. The Braves trailed 41-38 when they started at their own 35 with 5:20 left. Alcorn marched down the field, converted a 4th-and-4 at the PVAMU 36, and went on to tally the game-winner on a three-yard pass to sophomore Tim McNair. Muhammad won SWAC Defensive Player of the Week tallied a career-high 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.
 
- In Alcorn's first home game this year, it cruised to a 45-7 victory over Mississippi College. Duffey turned in a breakout performance, which included three touchdowns. He rushed for 138 yards and a pair of scores, and caught 38 yards and a touchdown. The Braves won their seventh consecutive home opener.
 
- Despite limiting McNeese to a 1-of-15 mark on third downs, the Cowboys held on to a tight 17-14 decision. Junior linebacker Daimen Anderson recorded a career-high 12 tackles. Harper entered in relief after Johnson came out due to injury and threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter.
 
- The 99th season of Alcorn football began with a trip to Southern Miss on Aug. 31. The Braves won the time of possession battle 34:07-25:53. Alcorn's touchdown came on a 15-yard sprint up the middle by Waller, which cut the deficit to 13-7 with 10:43 left in the third quarter.
 
PRESEASON NOTES
- Alcorn promoted three coaches during the offseason. Cedric Thornton was elevated to Associate Head Coach and remains the Defensive Coordinator. Elliott Wratten was promoted to Offensive Coordinator after serving on the coaching staff since 2016. Ryan Busz is now full-time as the running backs coach after previously working as a graduate assistant.
 
- WVNews reported that Alcorn QB coach Pat White is arguably the best quarterback to ever play at West Virginia University. 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 was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame last season.
 
POSTSEASON HONORS
HBCU Player of the Year Finalist
Felix Harper, QB
 
STATS FCS All-America
Solomon Muhammad, LB - Third-Team
 
HERO Sports All-America
Colten Menges, LS
 
HERO Sports Freshman All-America
Niko Duffey, RB
 
HBCU All-America
Felix Harper, QB – First-Team
Michael Ajumobi, OL – First-Team
Solomon Muhammad, LB – First-Team
Qwynnterrio Cole, DB – First-Team
 
C Spire Conery Trophy Finalist (Best Player in the State of Mississippi)
Felix Harper, QB
 
SWAC Offensive Player of the Year
Felix Harper, QB

SWAC Coach of the Year
Fred McNair, Head Coach
 
SWAC All-Conference
Felix Harper, QB – First-Team
Michael Ajumobi, OL – First-Team
Solomon Muhammad, LB – First-Team
Qwynnterrio Cole, DB – First-Team
Kevin Hall, OL – Second-Team
Corey McCullough, P – Second-Team
 
SWAC Championship Offensive MVP
LeCharles Pringle, WR
 
SWAC Championship Defensive MVP
Juwan Taylor, DB
 
#FearTheBrave
 
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