BATON ROUGE, La. – Homestanding Southern (La.) scored 21 first half points and held on for the 21-17 victory, as Alcorn fell in a hard-fought Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Western Division contest in front of 26,900 fans on Saturday night at A.W. Mumford Stadium.
It took Southern (4-2, 3-1 SWAC) just three plays into the game to open the scoring, as quarterback Besean McCray connected with August Pitre III for a 37-yard touchdown through the air. Added the extra point from Joshua Griffin, and the Jaguars led 7-0 just two minutes into the contest.
The Jaguars added a touchdown just two minutes into the second quarter, as Karl Ligon ran it in from 36 yards out to extend the lead at 14-0.
Alcorn (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) responded on its ensuing possession, using a 10-play, 75-yard drive that spanned just under four minutes in total. Transfer quarterback
Aaron Allen connected with
Malik Rodgers for 26 yards and the score to cut into the lead, 14-7.
McCray would answer in kind later in the stanza, linking up with Cassius Allen for 14 yards and the score to put his team back up by 14, as the Jaguars went back up, 21-7.
However, the scoring was not finished for the Braves, as Allen connected with
Monterio Hunt in the corner of the end zone from 31 yards out that brought the Purple and Gold to within 21-14.
That's where the score would stand at the break.
The second half was a defensive effort from both teams.
However, Alcorn had three drives that extended deep into Southern territory that resulted in just three (3) points altogether.
Kiani missed a 46-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter, while later making up for it in the fourth, as the Minnesota native drilled a 24-yarder to cut into the deficit, 21-17.
Trailing by four with the ball and under five minutes to play, the Braves looked to be driving for a possible go-ahead score. However, a fourth down stand by the hosts stopped running back
Jarveon Howard by mere inches, allowing the Jags to take possession with under two minutes remaining.
Howard ended the night with 79 yards rushing on 22 carries for the Braves. Allen finished the game 17 of 26 passing for two touchdowns and one interception, adding a game-high 211 yards through the air. Rodgers finished with a game-high eight receptions for 83 yards and a score.
Southern was led by Ligon on the ground with 92 yards and touchdown on 16 carries. McCray ended 12 of 19 passing for 199 yards and two passing touchdowns.
Keyron Kinsler Jr. led the Braves in defense with seven tackles, joined by
Terreance Ellis with seven stops of his own.
The Jaguars were led on defense by Corione Harris with 10 tackles.
Alcorn will look to brush the game off quickly, as the Braves host Texas Southern to Jack Spinks – Marino Casem Stadium next weekend for Homecoming in Lorman, Mississippi. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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