LORMAN, Miss. — Alcorn State University erased an early 14-point deficit and scored 38 of the game's final 44 points as the Braves pulled away from Florida A&M University for a 38-20 Southwestern Athletic Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. The win marked Alcorn's second consecutive victory and improved the Braves to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in SWAC play, while Florida A&M fell to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in conference action.

After falling behind 14-0 midway through the opening quarter, Alcorn responded behind another big performance from quarterback Jaylon Tolbert and a career afternoon from wide receiver Malachi Augustus. The Braves tied the game at 14 before halftime, grabbed their first lead on a third-quarter field goal and scored 21 points over the final 15:05 to secure the 18-point victory. Alcorn finished with 546 yards of total offense, including 314 through the air and 232 on the ground, while averaging 8.0 yards per play and recording 23 first downs.

Tolbert completed 16-of-23 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing nine times for 60 yards. Augustus was the primary beneficiary of Tolbert's big afternoon, hauling in four receptions for a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns, including scoring receptions of 92, 10 and 63 yards. Elijah Griffin added three catches for 90 yards, while Damien Jones caught four passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.

Alcorn also controlled the game on the ground, rushing for 232 yards on 45 attempts. Fredrick Robertson led the Braves with 96 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, Tolbert added 60 yards on nine attempts and Ernest Temple finished with 56 yards on 11 carries. The balanced attack helped Alcorn control the football for 31:29 and convert 8-of-13 third-down opportunities.

The afternoon began with turnovers by both teams. Jaylen Mcroy intercepted Florida A&M quarterback Armond Parker on the Rattlers' first offensive snap, but FAMU returned the favor with an interception two plays later. The Rattlers capitalized as Parker connected with Corey Petty for a 16-yard touchdown, giving Florida A&M a 7-0 lead with 10:15 remaining in the opening quarter. After Alcorn's next possession ended with a punt, Parker struck again, finding Kieren Jackson for an 84-yard touchdown to push the Rattlers' advantage to 14-0 with 4:43 remaining.

Florida A&M appeared poised to add to the lead moments later after recovering an Alcorn fumble at the Braves' 12-yard line, but the Alcorn defense delivered an early turning point by stopping the Rattlers on fourth down at the 5. Three plays later, Tolbert connected with Augustus for a 92-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 1:25 remaining in the first quarter and shifting the momentum back to the Braves.

Alcorn leaned heavily on its rushing attack to draw even in the second quarter, putting together a methodical 15-play, 86-yard drive that consumed 6:52. Temple carried seven times during the possession as the Braves repeatedly moved the chains on the ground before Tolbert found Augustus for a 10-yard touchdown with 6:33 remaining in the half. The score tied the game at 14-14, where it remained at halftime after Alcorn narrowly missed a 20-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds.

The Braves took their first lead on the opening possession of the second half, marching 46 yards in 10 plays before Kenyon Bowyer connected on a 40-yard field goal to make it 17-14 with 10:15 remaining in the third quarter. Florida A&M answered late in the period with a 25-yard field goal from Gabriel Perez, tying the contest at 17 with just 12 seconds remaining.

Alcorn needed only five seconds to respond. On the final play of the third quarter, Tolbert found Augustus for a 63-yard touchdown, giving the Braves a 24-17 advantage entering the fourth. The touchdown completed Augustus' three-score afternoon and gave Alcorn a lead it would not relinquish.

Florida A&M opened the fourth quarter with a 34-yard Perez field goal to trim Alcorn's advantage to 24-20, but the Braves answered with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Armon Wright opened the possession with a 12-yard run, Robertson followed with a 14-yard gain and Tolbert later connected with Griffin for 35 yards to move Alcorn deep into FAMU territory. Tolbert finished the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jones, extending the lead to 31-20 with 7:56 remaining.

The Alcorn defense then forced a turnover on downs at midfield, and the offense delivered the knockout blow. Facing third-and-nine from the FAMU 49, Tolbert connected with Griffin for 48 yards to the 1-yard line, setting up Robertson's one-yard touchdown run with 4:17 remaining. Bowyer's extra point stretched the advantage to 38-20, capping a stretch in which the Braves outscored Florida A&M 38-6 after falling behind 14-0.

Florida A&M made one final push, advancing to the Alcorn 20, but the Braves' defense again turned the Rattlers away on fourth down with 1:16 remaining. Alcorn then ran out the clock to secure its sixth victory of the season and fourth conference win.

Defensively, Alcorn limited Florida A&M to just 59 rushing yards on 27 attempts and recorded four sacks for 27 yards. Elijah Ruffin led the Braves with seven tackles, while Kenneth Andrews added six. Mcroy and Jayden Davis each finished with five stops, with Mcroy adding the first-quarter interception. Jakel Houston-Irving was a disruptive force up front, recording three tackles for loss and two sacks, while Mahamadou Diarra and Teddy Roby each added a sack.

Notes

• Alcorn improved to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in SWAC play.
• The Braves have won back-to-back games, following their 52-17 victory at Mississippi Valley State.
• Alcorn overcame an early 14-0 deficit and outscored Florida A&M 38-6 over the remainder of the game.
• The Braves finished with 546 yards of total offense, including 314 passing and 232 rushing.
• Alcorn averaged 8.0 yards per offensive play.
• The Braves recorded 23 first downs, including 17 on the ground.
• Jaylon Tolbert completed 16-of-23 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
• Tolbert also rushed nine times for 60 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
• Malachi Augustus recorded four receptions for a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns.
• Augustus scored on receptions of 92, 10 and 63 yards.
• Augustus' 92-yard touchdown reception was Alcorn's longest play from scrimmage.
• Elijah Griffin caught three passes for 90 yards, including receptions of 35 and 48 yards during fourth-quarter touchdown drives.
• Damien Jones caught four passes and scored on a seven-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
• Fredrick Robertson led the rushing attack with 96 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
• Ernest Temple rushed 11 times for 56 yards.
• Alcorn rushed for 232 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt.
• The Braves converted 8-of-13 third-down opportunities and their only fourth-down attempt.
• Alcorn scored 24 points in the second half.
• Kenyon Bowyer connected on a 40-yard field goal and was perfect on five extra-point attempts.
• Alcorn's defense held Florida A&M to 59 rushing yards and 2.2 yards per carry.
• The Braves recorded five tackles for loss and four sacks.
• Jakel Houston-Irving finished with three tackles for loss and two sacks.
• Mahamadou Diarra and Teddy Roby each recorded a sack.
• Elijah Ruffin led Alcorn with seven tackles.
• Kenneth Andrews added six tackles.
• Jaylen Mcroy recorded five tackles and an interception on Florida A&M's first offensive play.
• Alcorn held Florida A&M to 2-of-12 on third-down conversions.
• The Braves stopped the Rattlers on three of their four fourth-down attempts.
• Alcorn held a 31:29 to 28:31 advantage in time of possession.

How It Happened
First Quarter

• Mcroy intercepted Parker on Florida A&M's first offensive play, but the Rattlers answered with an interception on Alcorn's ensuing possession.
• Parker connected with Petty for a 16-yard touchdown, giving Florida A&M a 7-0 lead.
• FAMU extended the advantage when Parker found Jackson for an 84-yard touchdown, making it 14-0 with 4:43 remaining.
• Florida A&M recovered an Alcorn fumble at the Braves' 12, but the Alcorn defense stopped the Rattlers on fourth-and-three from the 5-yard line.
• Three plays later, Tolbert connected with Augustus for a 92-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 14-7.

Second Quarter

• Alcorn put together a 15-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:52.
• Temple helped power the possession with seven carries as the Braves consistently moved the chains on the ground.
• Tolbert connected with Augustus for a 10-yard touchdown with 6:33 remaining, tying the game at 14-14.
• Houston-Irving and Diarra each recorded sacks during the quarter as the Alcorn defense kept Florida A&M off the scoreboard.
• Alcorn drove to the FAMU 10 in the final seconds, but a 20-yard field-goal attempt was unsuccessful.
• The teams entered halftime tied at 14-14.

Third Quarter

• Alcorn opened the second half with a 10-play, 46-yard drive.
• Bowyer connected on a 40-yard field goal to give the Braves their first lead, 17-14, with 10:15 remaining.
• Florida A&M answered with a 25-yard Perez field goal with 12 seconds left in the quarter to tie the game at 17.
• On the next offensive play, Tolbert found Augustus for a 63-yard touchdown as time expired, giving Alcorn a 24-17 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Florida A&M opened the quarter with a 34-yard Perez field goal, trimming Alcorn's lead to 24-20.
• The Braves answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 35-yard Tolbert-to-Griffin completion.
• Tolbert connected with Jones for a seven-yard touchdown with 7:56 remaining, extending the advantage to 31-20.
• Alcorn's defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield on Florida A&M's next possession.
• Tolbert connected with Griffin for 48 yards to the FAMU 1, and Robertson scored on the next play to give the Braves a 38-20 lead with 4:17 remaining.
• Florida A&M reached the Alcorn 20 on its final possession, but the Braves again stopped the Rattlers on fourth down.
• Alcorn ran out the remaining 1:16 to secure the 38-20 SWAC victory.

Up Next
Alcorn State returns to the road on Saturday, Nov. 14, when the Braves travel to Baton Rouge, La., to face SWAC foe Southern University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.