Written by the SWAC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The 2019 Southwestern Athletic Conference football season was one that saw highly competitive games from start to finish.
With wide ranging parity in both the East and West divisions it was a year truly highlighted by nearly every program in the conference making strides in some form.
A total of four teams finished league play with 4-3 overall conference records (Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Grambling State, Prairie View A&M). Jackson State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff followed closely behind with 3-4 marks in league competition.
Mississippi Valley State (1-6) and Texas Southern (0-7) both finished the regular season in fifth place in the SWAC East and West divisions respectively. Despite their last place finishes both MVSU and TSU played several hard fought contest against league foes that had they won could have drastically altered their respective seasons.Â
Arkansas-Pine Bluff's 37-31 road win over Tennessee State and Alabama A&M's 31-24 road win over North Alabama served as two of the leagues' biggest wins in non-conference play for the 2019 campaign. Â
2019 Regular Season Recap
Down to the final weeks of the season multiple SWAC teams still found themselves in the hunt for a league title with a legitimate chance to compete in the conference title game.
Alcorn and Southern would eventually emerge as the leagues' division winners after posting identical 6-1 records in SWAC regular season play.
The Braves only loss in league play was a 19-16 decision at Grambling State, while the Jaguars only blemish was a 27-13 loss at Alcorn.
Southern clinched a title berth with a 30-28 win over Grambling State at the Bayou Classic. Alcorn clinched its berth with a 34-28 home win over Alabama A&M and subsequently clinched the rights to host the championship game with a 41-6 road win over Jackson State.
2019 SWAC Championship Recap
When the two teams met for the second time during the season on Saturday, December 7 at the 2019 Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship game it was an epic battle for the ages.
Led by quarterback
Felix Harper, wide receiver
LeCharles Pringle, linebacker Soloman Muhammed and defensive back
Juwan Taylor, the Braves were able to get big plays on both sides of the ball late in the contest to seal the victory over the Jaguars by a score of 39-24.
Alcorn trailed 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter, and found themselves still down 24-22 with 8:43 remaining. Alcorn took the lead on a 23-yard field goal by senior
Corey McCullough, and then put the game away with a six-yard rushing touchdown by senior
De'Shawn Waller and a pick-six by senior
Taurence Wilson.
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Braves senior wide receiver Pringle was named the SWAC Championship Offensive MVP. He hauled in a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown.
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.
2019 Celebration Bowl Recap
Alcorn would go on to drop a 64-44 decision to North Carolina A&T at the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. The Braves played catch-up for most of the contest, but battled until the final whistle. Alcorn scored five touchdowns in the second half to keep within striking defense of North Carolina A&T.
Alcorn's Harper totaled five touchdowns, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns, and also rushed for a pair of scores. He completed 25 passes, which matched his career-high.
Senior
Chris Blair caught seven passes for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown. Fellow senior
Raidarious Anderson hauled in a game-high eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
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Junior defensive back Taylor led the Alcorn Braves defense with nine tackles.
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NCAT's Kylil Carter threw for 364 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. His top target was Korey Banks with 122 yards and two scores. North Carolina A&T's Jah-Main Martin rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
2019 SWAC Postseason Individual Superlatives
Freshman of the Year:Â Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, Alabama A&M
Newcomer of the Year:Â Donnie Corley, Texas Southern
Defensive Player of the Year:Â Keonte Hampton, Jackson State
Offensive Player of the Year:Â
Felix Harper, Alcorn
Coach of the Year:Â
Fred McNair, Alcorn
#FearTheBrave
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