LORMAN, Miss. — Alcorn State University celebrated Homecoming in dominant fashion Saturday afternoon, scoring in all three phases and rushing for 323 yards as the Braves rolled past Arkansas Baptist University, 63-7, before 14,502 fans at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

The Braves scored the game's first 14 points, carried a 28-7 advantage into halftime and erupted for 35 unanswered points after the break to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

Alcorn controlled the game on the ground, piling up 323 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on 53 attempts. The Braves finished with 446 yards of total offense, averaged 6.9 yards per play and recorded 24 first downs. Defensively, Alcorn limited Arkansas Baptist to 206 total yards, including just 74 through the air.

Carl McDonald Jr. led a balanced Alcorn rushing attack with 88 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Fredrick Robertson added 58 yards on nine attempts, while quarterback Jaylon Tolbert rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown, including a 30-yard scoring run. Joshua Tate scored twice on the ground, and Anthony Morgan added a fourth-quarter touchdown.

Tolbert was efficient through the air, completing 7-of-9 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Armon Wright led the Braves with three receptions for 52 yards, while Tyree Kelly hauled in a 48-yard touchdown reception.

Alcorn's special teams and defense also found the end zone. Omarion Blakes returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter, while Kaidon Whidby forced and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble and returned it 10 yards for another score.

After forcing Arkansas Baptist to punt on its opening possession, the Braves needed just six plays to travel 51 yards for the game's first score. Robertson opened the drive with a 25-yard run before McDonald capped it with a two-yard touchdown, giving Alcorn a 7-0 lead with 9:19 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Braves doubled the advantage on their next possession. Alcorn drove 68 yards in seven plays, with Tolbert breaking free for a 30-yard touchdown run to put the Braves ahead 14-0 with 4:08 remaining in the first.

Arkansas Baptist answered with its lone scoring drive, moving 71 yards in 10 plays before Terrell Weathers scored from eight yards out five seconds into the second quarter to cut Alcorn's lead to 14-7.

The Braves responded with a methodical 12-play, 62-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes. Tate finished the possession with a two-yard touchdown run, restoring Alcorn's two-score advantage at 21-7.

Alcorn's special teams delivered the next big play. With 2:21 remaining in the half, Blakes fielded an Arkansas Baptist punt at the Alcorn 30 and raced 70 yards for a touchdown, extending the Braves' lead to 28-7. Blakes finished with 104 yards on two punt returns.

The Braves wasted little time adding to the lead after halftime. Tolbert connected with Wright for 27 yards before finding Kelly for a 48-yard touchdown, completing a three-play, 76-yard drive just 1:07 into the third quarter.

Alcorn's defense then began creating short fields.Tyreke Snow forced and recovered an Arkansas Baptist fumble at the visitors' 10-yard line. Two plays later, Tate scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a five-yard run, increasing the advantage to 42-7 with 9:33 remaining in the third.
 
McDonald added his second touchdown later in the period, finishing an eight-play, 50-yard possession with an eight-yard run to send Alcorn into the fourth quarter leading 49-7.

The defense joined the scoring early in the final period. Whidby sacked Arkansas Baptist quarterback Jayden Young before forcing a fumble on fourth down. Whidby recovered the loose ball and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 56-7 with 9:17 remaining.

After another Arkansas Baptist punt, Alvin Dinkins broke off a 13-yard run before Morgan scored on a 15-yard touchdown run, providing the final margin at 63-7 with 6:43 remaining.

Alcorn's defense finished the afternoon with 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, three takeaways and three pass breakups. Jordan Daniel led the Braves with 11 tackles and two tackles for loss, while Mahamadou Diarra and Jaeden Spelmon recorded nine tackles apiece. Whidby finished with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and the 10-yard fumble return touchdown.

Notes

• Alcorn improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in SWAC play with the Homecoming victory.
• The Braves scored a season-high 63 points, surpassing the 59 scored at Grambling State last week.
• Alcorn scored 35 unanswered points in the second half after leading 28-7 at halftime.
• The Braves outgained Arkansas Baptist 446-206 and held a 323-132 advantage on the ground.
• Alcorn recorded 24 first downs, including 17 on the ground.
• The Braves averaged 6.1 yards per rushing attempt and scored six rushing touchdowns.
• Carl McDonald Jr. led Alcorn with 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
• Fredrick Robertson added 58 yards on nine carries, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.
• Jaylon Tolbert finished 7-of-9 passing for 123 yards and one touchdown while adding 48 rushing yards and a score.
• Joshua Tate rushed for two touchdowns.
• Tyree Kelly's lone reception went for a 48-yard touchdown.
• Armon Wright caught three passes for a team-high 52 receiving yards.
• Omarion Blakes returned two punts for 104 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.
• Alcorn scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams.
• The Braves forced three turnovers — an interception and two fumble recoveries.
• Tayvion Haney recorded Alcorn's interception in the second quarter.
• Tyreke Snow forced and recovered a third-quarter fumble that led to Tate's second touchdown.
• Kaidon Whidby forced and recovered a fumble and returned it 10 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.
• Jordan Daniel led the defense with 11 tackles and two tackles for loss.
• Mahamadou Diarra and Jaeden Spelmon each finished with nine tackles.
• Alcorn recorded 10 tackles for loss for 39 yards and three sacks for 15 yards.
• Kenyon Bowyer converted all nine of his extra-point attempts.
• Alcorn converted 7-of-10 third downs, while Arkansas Baptist finished 4-of-14.
• The Braves were penalized just four times for 40 yards.
• Saturday's announced attendance was 14,502.

How It Happened
First Quarter

• Alcorn forced a punt on Arkansas Baptist's opening possession, with Blakes' 34-yard return setting the Braves up at their own 49.
• Robertson opened Alcorn's first possession with a 25-yard run.
• McDonald capped the six-play, 51-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run, giving Alcorn a 7-0 lead with 9:19 remaining.
• The Braves followed with a seven-play, 68-yard drive on their next possession.
• Tolbert broke free for a 30-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 14-0 with 4:08 remaining.
• Arkansas Baptist began a 10-play scoring drive late in the quarter but entered the second trailing 14-0.

Second Quarter

• Weathers completed Arkansas Baptist's 71-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run five seconds into the quarter, trimming Alcorn's lead to 14-7.
• Alcorn responded with a 12-play, 62-yard drive, with Tate scoring from two yards out to make it 21-7.
• Haney intercepted Young at the Arkansas Baptist 28 on the visitors' next possession, although the Braves were unable to turn the takeaway into points.
• With 2:21 remaining, Blakes returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 28-7.
• Arkansas Baptist turned the ball over on downs in Alcorn territory late in the half.
• Alcorn carried a 28-7 advantage into halftime.

Third Quarter

• Alcorn opened the second half with a three-play, 76-yard scoring drive.
• Tolbert found Kelly for a 48-yard touchdown with 13:48 remaining, extending the lead to 35-7.
• Snow forced and recovered a fumble at the Arkansas Baptist 10-yard line.
• Two plays later, Tate scored on a five-yard run, giving the Braves a 42-7 advantage.
• McDonald capped an eight-play, 50-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run at the 4:45 mark.
• Alcorn scored 21 unanswered points in the quarter and entered the fourth leading 49-7.

Fourth Quarter

• Whidby sacked Young for a four-yard loss on third down early in the quarter.
• On fourth down, Whidby forced another fumble, recovered it and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, extending Alcorn's lead to 56-7 with 9:17 remaining.
• The Braves' defense forced another three-and-out, giving the offense possession at the Arkansas Baptist 28.
• Dinkins rushed for 13 yards on the first play of the possession.
• Morgan followed with a 15-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 63-7 with 6:43 remaining.
• Alcorn's defense kept Arkansas Baptist off the scoreboard throughout the second half to secure the 63-7 Homecoming victory.

Up Next
Alcorn State returns to SWAC play on Saturday, Oct. 17, when the Braves travel to face Prairie View A&M University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.