MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Alcorn State battled wire-to-wire but came up just short in a 24-20 setback to Arkansas–Pine Bluff Saturday evening at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
The Braves (0-4, 0-2 SWAC) piled up 479 yards of total offense and led 20-17 entering the fourth quarter before the Golden Lions (2-2, 1-0) scored the decisive touchdown with 5:39 remaining.
Running back Jacorian Sewell powered the Alcorn attack with a career-high 225 rushing yards on 23 carries, including touchdown runs of 33 and 5 yards. Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert added 207 passing yards, completing 15 of 30 attempts with a 24-yard scoring strike to Jamar Kaho in the first quarter.
Reggie Davis provided balance with 35 rushing yards and 39 receiving yards, while TB Hinton caught two passes for 36 yards. Defensively, Stemarion Edwards paced the Braves with nine total tackles and a tackle for loss. Cedric Roberts added four stops and a key pass breakup.
Alcorn grabbed an early lead on Tolbert's touchdown pass to Kaho and answered each Golden Lion surge through three quarters. Sewell's 33-yard scoring burst midway through the second quarter and his 5-yard touchdown in the third gave the Braves their final advantage. Arkansas–Pine Bluff quarterback Christian Peters threw for 323 yards and one touchdown and scored the game-winning 1-yard keeper in the fourth.
The Braves finished with 272 net rushing yards and converted 5 of 13 third downs, but a missed field goal and 12 penalties for 106 yards proved costly in a contest that featured six lead changes.
Alcorn State returns home next Saturday to host Prairie View A&M at Spinks-Casem Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
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