Alcorn Clashes with Southern in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. – Alcorn and Southern (La.) are set to add another game to the history books of epic battles this weekend, as the Braves travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana with first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division on the line when the two teams meet at A.W. Mumford Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m.
 
Alcorn at Southern (La.)
Oct. 15, 2022 | 6 p.m. CT
A.W. Mumford Stadium | Baton Rouge, La.
WPRL 91.7 FM (Radio) | Sirius XM (Radio) | ESPN+
 
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Alcorn 3-2 (2-0 SWAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats | Game Notes
 
Southern 3-2 (2-0 SWAC)
Roster | Coaches | Schedule & Results | Stats
 
Game Day Hashtags
#ALCvsSUBR | #BeatSUBR | #BagTheJags | #TogetherWeRise
 
Story Lines –
• Redshirt senior wide receiver CJ Bolar enters the weekend having caught at least one pass in 14 consecutive games dating back to the 2021 season.
• Redshirt senior running back Jarveon Howard enters the weekend tied for seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for rushing touchdowns (8), while also ranked fourth for rushing yards (634).
• Two areas in which Head Coach Fred McNair wanted improvement during the offseason were along the offensive and defensive lines, respectively. Currently, the Braves rank first in the SWAC for sacks (4.0) and sacks allowed (1.2).
• Alcorn defensive linemen Malachi Bailey and Chris Ballard are ranked in the top 35 of the FCS for quarterback sacks. Bailey enters the weekend ranked tied for 24th with 4.0 sacks, while Ballard is tied for 33rd with 3.0 sacks.
• Quarterback Aaron Allen has completed a pass to 12 different receivers for the Braves this season.
• Manny Jones was back in action last weekend on punt returns, but he did not register an actual return. Rather, he had three fair catches on the night at Mississippi Valley State, respectfully.
 
Series Notes –
• Alcorn leads the all-time series against Southern by a count of 40-28-2...
• Under Head Coach Fred McNair, the Braves are 5-2 against the Jaguars...
• Alcorn has faced Southern three times in the SWAC Championship game, with the Braves owning a perfect 3-0 mark against the Jaguars in that event...
• The Braves and Jaguars have met for the league title in two of the last four seasons, including back-to-back seasons in 2018 and '19, respectively...
 
The Broadcasts –
The game will be carried live on ESPN+ and the WatchESPN app on all mobile devices for streaming, while also being carried live via the Braves Radio Network in the form of WPRL 91.7 FM as Charles Edmond (play-by-play) operates alongside Emmanuel Barnes (color) and Cedric Tillman (sidelines).
 
The Coach –
Head Coach Fred McNair is now in his sixth year at the helm of the Alcorn Football program. McNair touts an overall record of 39-26 at the helm of the Braves program. The Alcornite of 1992 enters the weekend owning a winning record of 5-2 lifetime as a head coach against Southern, respectfully.
 
The Weather –
Projected temperatures on game day: Lorman – 88/58. Baton Rouge, La. – 90/62 (9% chance of rain).
 
#HighFive –
1. Quarterback Aaron Allen passed for a career-best 300 yards last weekend at Mississippi Valley State, completing 22 of 29 passes with zero (0) interceptions.
2. The Alcorn "Trident" offensive backfield has all three running backs over the 100-yard rushing mark for the season, led by Jarveon Howard with 646 altogether.
3. The Alcorn defense ranks first in the SWAC and second in all of FCS for quarterback sacks, as the Braves average 4.0 sacks per game.
4. Manny Jones is back on punt returns for the Braves, stepping in last weekend at MVSU.
5. Placekicker Noah Kiani is third in the SWAC for made fi eld goals this season, having connected on 7-of-9 thus far on the campaign, including a 42-yard fi eld goal.
 
A Win over Southern (La.) Would –
• Give Head Coach Fred McNair his 40th overall career win...
• Be the eighth win in the last 10 outings against the Jaguars...
• Allow the Braves to start 3-0 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for the sixth time since the 2012 season...
• Give Alcorn its 17th win all-time in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
 
#TogetherWeRise –
• The hashtag and motto for Alcorn State University Football in 2022 is #TogetherWeRise…
• Head Coach Fred McNair and the team always say "As Braves...Together We Rise" before concluding every meeting and/or practice throughout the 2022 playing season…
 
The Trident Attack —
• The "Trident" offensive backfield with running backs Jarveon Howard, Niko Duffey and Javonta Leatherwood has produced 1,014 yards between the three ball-carriers this season.
• Howard enters the weekend tied for seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) for rushing touchdowns (8), while also ranked fourth for rushing yards (634).
• Meanwhile, Duffey has 212 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, adding a touchdown as well. And Leatherwood has 156 yards with a touchdown, averaging 5.2 yards per carry for the year.
 
Aaron Allen of House Steady-More —
• Alcorn quarterback Aaron Allen may not be putting up numbers that are "fancy", but he has been steady at running the offense under Head Coach Fred McNair.
• Allen is sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in passing (762 yards // 3 TDs) but owns a 120.61 passing efficiency rating. He also has 54 yards rushing and a score via the ground.
• While the Alcorn offensive line is ranked first in the league for sacks allowed, Allen has also been steady at getting rid of the ball when under pressure, as well as guiding the Braves down the fi eld in an average of two minutes and 44 second (2:44) on their scoring drives for the season.
 
Scoop 'N Score for Tyler Smith —
• Towards the end of the game against Mississippi Valley State, Alcorn defensive lineman Tyler Smith scooped up a Delta Devils fumble and charged 35 yards with it for his first collegiate touchdown. For Smith, after an emotional last three weeks with the loss of his mom and sister, he was presented with the game ball – the actual ball that he scored the touchdown with and was surrounded by the team immediately after scoring.
 
#OctoberFest —
• The month of October will be a tough test for the Braves in 2022.
• Alcorn has trips to in-state foe Mississippi Valley State, as well as key Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) western division matchups away to Southern and Grambling State, respectively.
• At home in October, the Purple and Gold welcome Texas Southern for Homecoming (Oct. 22).
 
Road Warriors —
• Alcorn State played most of its games on the road in 2021, and the 2022 season is once again heavily linked with games away from the friendly confines of Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium.
• Away games for the Braves this year have included trips to FBS opponent Tulane and perennial FCS power McNeese State. Other key away dates include stops at Mississippi Valley State, Southern, Grambling State and Prairie View A&M, respectively.
 
Marino Casem to be Honored at Xavier (La.) —
• Former Alcorn State Football head coach Marino Casem will be inducted posthumously into the 2022 Xavier
(La.) University Athletic Hall of Fame as one of 20 honorees released to the public by the university. The official induction ceremony is set to take place during a banquet on November 3, on the campus of Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• A 1956 graduate of Xavier (La.) University and dubbed "The Godfather" by Roscoe Nance of the Clarion-Ledger, Casem served as a student-athlete for the Gold Rush in the sport of football.
• The Memphis, Tennessee native served as head coach for the Braves football team at Alcorn State from 1964 through 1985, while also serving as the university's athletic director from 1966 until 1986. During his Alcorn tenure, "The Godfather" compiled a record of 132-65-8 – still serving as the most wins all-time in school history in football. Along the way, he helped the Braves capture seven Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles and four Historically Black College/University (HBCU) National Championships. In 1984, Casem helped lead the Braves to a 9-1 overall record (7-0 SWAC), earning a trip to the quarterfinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs – formerly known as the Division I-AA playoffs.
 
Next Up –
• The Braves welcome Texas Southern to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium for Homecoming on "The Reservation" on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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