Alcorn Game Notes | PVAMU Game Notes | ESPN3 | Live Radio | Live Stats
LORMAN, Miss. – In front of a national audience, the Alcorn State University football program will battle Prairie View A&M in a game that was moved up an hour to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
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The game will be nationally televised for free on ESPN3 or the WatchESPN app with Jay Walker and Tiffany Greene on the call.
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It's the first conference game of the year for Alcorn (1-2, 0-0 SWAC), which is looking to bounce back from a tough 17-14 defeat to McNeese. The Alcorn defense limited the Cowboys to a 1-of-15 mark on third downs, and shut them out in the second half as junior linebacker
Daimen Anderson recorded a career-high 12 tackles.
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Junior quarterback
Felix Harper entered in relief after Johnson came out due to injury and threw a pair of touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Johnson, as well as senior running back
De'Shawn Waller, will be game-time decisions Saturday.
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The Braves are one of two teams in the nation to score a touchdown on every trip inside the red zone this season (along with Youngstown State). Alcorn is five-for-five in red zone touchdowns.
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Through three games, the Braves lead the SWAC in scoring defense (20.7 ppg), total defense (318.3 ypg), rushing defense (115.3 ypg), third down conversions (.431), third down defense (.275), fewest first downs allowed per game (13.0) and time of possession (31:34).
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In Alcorn's first home game this year, it cruised to a 45-7 victory over Mississippi College. Freshman
Niko 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.
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The Panthers (1-2, 1-0 SWAC) won their SWAC opener over Texas Southern 44-23 on Aug. 31. Since then, they fell at Houston 37-17, and a close 42-35 final last weekend at Nicholls State.
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PVAMU is quarterbacked by senior Jalen Morton who has thrown for 705 yards and five touchdowns this season. He's go-to receiver has been Tony Mullins with 238 yards and three scores. Dawonya Tucker paces the rushing attack with 271 yards and three touchdowns.
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In last year's meeting, Alcorn defeated PVAMU 27-13 as senior linebacker
Brelion Hollis wrapped-up 12 tackles. The Braves sacked Morton five times. Alcorn held a big 512-235 edge in total yards, including 249-61 in rushing. Senior
De'Shawn Waller ran for 120 yards and a touchdown.
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In addition to the ESPN3 stream, the game can be heard live for free on 91.7 FM or wprl.org with Charles Edmond on the call.
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NOTES
- Alcorn is going for its third straight win over Prairie View A&M. The Braves are 42-15 all-time against the Panthers.
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- The Braves are 80-53 all-time in Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium, which is in its 28th season. Alcorn is on a four-game home winning-streak which carried over from last year.
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- Alcorn is ranked No. 3 in the national HBCU Top-10, while PVAMU is No. 6. The Braves are also receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top-25 Poll.
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- The Braves are 14-0 when leading at halftime since 2017.
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- Alcorn is 11-6 in night games under head coach
Fred McNair, who is in his fourth season at the helm.
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- McNair is 16-7 in his career against the SWAC.
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- In the Alcorn career record book, senior
Corey McCullough is the all-time leader in field goals made with 36. He broke the record in the season-opener with a 44-yarder at Southern Miss. Senior
Noah Johnson ranks fourth in passing completions (382), sixth in passing yards (4,330), seventh in touchdown passes (31) and ninth in rushing yards (1,892).
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- Alcorn is the alma mater of the legendary Steve "Air II" McNair who led the Tennessee Titans to four playoff appearances as the starting quarterback including Super Bowl XXXIV. This past weekend, McNair had his No. 9 jersey retired by the Titans prior to their home-opener. Older brother Fred "Air" McNair spoke at the ceremony, and Alcorn president Dr. Felecia M. Nave was also on-hand. Steve McNair was selected to three Pro Bowls and was All-Pro and Co-MVP in 2003. He was the 1994 Walter Payton Award winner for the best player in NCAA DI-AA.
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Quoting Alcorn head coach Fred McNair
On the McNeese game
"It was a rough loss and we didn't play as well as we expected as coaches. We didn't play well in the first half offensively. Defensively, I thought we did well in some aspects, but overall we didn't get a team effort. I think that was one of the worst football games we've ever played. We just had to get back to the drawing board this week and get better."
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On the status of Noah Johnson and De'Shawn Waller
"They've been getting evaluated all week. Right now, there's a possibility they could play but we will have to see on Saturday."
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On facing Prairie View's potent offense
"They have a great football team. Coach Dooley got those guys rolling and scoring a lot of points so we just have to be mentally sound by all aspects of it. They also have a good defense with lot of movement. We just need to take care of what we need to take care of; Alcorn-wise I think we'll be fine no matter what the opposition does. We just have to get these guys mentally prepared to play a tough football game."
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On the difference between Prairie View this year as compared to last year
"Offensively, I think they are more explosive this year than last year. Defensively, they're tough inside. They've got all the attributes it takes to win ballgames so we just got to prepare ourselves for a long afternoon."
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On Steve McNair's jersey retirement ceremony
"That was a great moment, very excited to see it happen. It was a great moment for the family and the fans, it was outstanding and very emotional. As I was watching the team play I was visualizing things that Steve was doing when he was on the field at that time. It had been a long time since I had been back to Nashville for a football game. The last time I was there was when Steve was there. It was emotional, but also a great moment."
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