LORMAN, Miss. — For the second time in three weeks, Alcorn State University needed overtime to secure a Southwestern Athletic Conference victory, and once again, the Braves delivered.

Fredrick Robertson scored four touchdowns, including the game-winning one-yard plunge in overtime, as Alcorn State survived a furious Texas Southern comeback to defeat the Tigers, 43-40, Saturday afternoon at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.

Alcorn improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in SWAC play, while Texas Southern fell to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference. The Braves finished with 520 yards of total offense, including 332 through the air and 188 on the ground, while recording 27 first downs.

The victory marked Alcorn's second overtime win of the season. Two weeks earlier, the Braves outlasted Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 53-51 in double overtime, in the 37th Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis.

Robertson was the difference Saturday, accounting for 175 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. The junior rushed 29 times for 105 yards and three scores while catching five passes for 70 yards and another touchdown. His one-yard touchdown run in overtime provided the game's final points.

Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert continued his strong play, completing 26-of-41 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Tolbert also rushed 12 times for 79 yards, giving him 411 yards of total offense.

Alcorn led by as many as 22 points in the second half before Texas Southern rallied to force overtime.

After Texas Southern opened the scoring with Miguel Arana's 40-yard field goal, Alcorn answered immediately. Tolbert connected with Robertson for a 27-yard touchdown, capping a five-play, 67-yard drive and giving the Braves a 7-3 advantage.

Alcorn extended the lead late in the opening quarter when Tolbert found Elijah Griffin for a 14-yard touchdown, putting the Braves ahead 13-3.

Texas Southern pulled within 13-9 on Cam'Ron McCoy's 37-yard touchdown pass to Fatu Mukuba in the second quarter, but Alcorn answered behind Robertson.

Robertson scored on a two-yard run with 3:27 remaining in the half to make it 20-9. After Arana's 37-yard field goal cut the margin to eight, Tolbert directed a rapid nine-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:12. Robertson finished it with another two-yard touchdown run, sending the Braves into halftime with a 27-12 advantage.

Alcorn's defense created the first turnover of the afternoon midway through the third quarter when Jaylen Mcroy forced and recovered a Texas Southern fumble at the Tigers' 34-yard line. The Braves turned the takeaway into seven points six plays later when Carl McDonald Jr. scored from two yards out, extending Alcorn's lead to 34-12 with 5:30 remaining.

Texas Southern, however, refused to go away. McCoy connected with Daveon Walker for a 34-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to trim the lead to 34-19. The Tigers then scored twice in the fourth quarter, with McCoy rushing for touchdowns of 34 and five yards. A successful two-point conversion following the second score completed the comeback and tied the game at 34-34 with 4:37 remaining.

Alcorn responded under pressure. Beginning at its own 27-yard line with 4:34 remaining, the Braves methodically moved 56 yards in 12 plays while taking 4:07 off the clock. Kenyon Bowyer then connected on a 35-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining, giving Alcorn a 37-34 advantage.

But Texas Southern had one final answer in regulation. The Tigers covered 59 yards in just 19 seconds, allowing Arana to connect on a 25-yard field goal as time expired, tying the game at 37-37 and sending Alcorn to overtime for the second time this season.

Texas Southern had the first possession in overtime, but Alcorn's defense pushed the Tigers backward. Arana ultimately connected on a 48-yard field goal, giving Texas Southern a 40-37 lead.

That left the game in the hands of the Alcorn offense. The Braves converted a fourth down during their overtime possession and worked their way toward the goal line. On the eighth play of the drive, Robertson powered in from one yard out, completing the comeback and giving Alcorn the 43-40 overtime victory.

Robertson led Alcorn's rushing attack with 105 yards, while Tolbert added 79 yards on the ground. Through the air, Robertson led the Braves with 70 receiving yards, followed by Armon Wright with five catches for 61 yards. Griffin caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, while Tyree Kelly added four receptions for 38 yards.

Defensively, Mahamadou Diarra led Alcorn with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Dillon Crowell added eight tackles, while Gideon Spottsville, Timothy Jasper, Tayvion Haney, Jordan Daniel and Elijah Ruffin each finished with five. Mcroy forced and recovered Texas Southern's lone turnover. Jasper also blocked an extra-point attempt, while Landon Carson blocked a first-quarter field-goal attempt.

The Braves finished the afternoon with 520 total yards on 86 offensive plays, converted 11-of-19 third downs and both of their fourth-down attempts, and scored on all six of their trips inside the red zone.

Notes

• Alcorn improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in SWAC play with the 43-40 victory.
• The Braves are 2-0 in overtime games this season, defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 53-51 in double overtime on Sept. 12 and Texas Southern 43-40 in overtime Saturday.
• Fredrick Robertson produced 175 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, rushing for 105 yards and three scores while catching five passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
• Robertson scored Alcorn's game-winning one-yard touchdown in overtime.
• Jaylon Tolbert completed 26-of-41 passes for 332 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
• Tolbert added 79 rushing yards, finishing with 411 yards of total offense.
• Alcorn accumulated 520 yards of total offense — 332 passing and 188 rushing — and recorded 27 first downs.
• The Braves led by as many as 22 points, taking a 34-12 advantage with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter.
• Alcorn did not commit a turnover, while the defense forced and recovered one Texas Southern fumble.
• Mahamadou Diarra led the Braves with nine tackles and recorded a sack.
• Jaylen Mcroy forced and recovered Texas Southern's third-quarter fumble.
• Landon Carson blocked a 30-yard Texas Southern field-goal attempt in the first quarter, and Timothy Jasper blocked an extra point in the second quarter.
• Demetrion Duvall placed three of his five punts inside the Texas Southern 20-yard line.
• Alcorn converted 11-of-19 third downs and 2-of-2 fourth downs and was 6-for-6 in red-zone scoring opportunities.\
• The Braves were penalized 13 times for 127 yards.
• Attendance at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium was 9,731.

How It Happened

First Quarter

• Texas Southern opened the game with a 10-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Arana's 40-yard field goal, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
• Alcorn answered on its first possession, moving 67 yards in five plays. Tolbert found Robertson for a 27-yard touchdown to give the Braves a 7-3 advantage.
• Carson blocked a 30-yard Texas Southern field-goal attempt on the Tigers' next possession, with Elijah Ruffin recovering the ball and returning it 13 yards.
• Alcorn capitalized with a 12-play, 70-yard drive. Tolbert connected with Griffin for a 14-yard touchdown with 34 seconds remaining.
• The Braves ended the opening quarter leading 13-3.

Second Quarter

• Texas Southern cut the lead to 13-9 when McCoy connected with Mukuba for a 37-yard touchdown with 7:39 remaining. Jasper blocked the ensuing extra point.
• Alcorn responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Robertson's two-yard touchdown run, extending the advantage to 20-9.
• Arana's 37-yard field goal pulled Texas Southern within 20-12 with 1:49 remaining.
• Tolbert then directed Alcorn 75 yards in just 1:12, with Robertson scoring his third touchdown of the half on another two-yard run.
• Alcorn carried a 27-12 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter

• Mcroy forced and recovered a Texas Southern fumble at the Tigers' 34-yard line with 7:44 remaining.
• Six plays later, McDonald scored on a two-yard run, giving Alcorn its largest lead of the game at 34-12.
• Texas Southern responded with a seven-play, 71-yard drive, capped by McCoy's 34-yard touchdown pass to Walker.
• Alcorn entered the fourth quarter holding a 34-19 advantage.

Fourth Quarter

• Texas Southern mounted its comeback behind McCoy, who scored on a 34-yard run with 9:36 remaining to make it 34-26.
• McCoy added a five-yard touchdown with 4:37 remaining before connecting with Athean Renfro on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 34-34.
• Alcorn responded with a 12-play, 56-yard drive that consumed 4:07.
• Bowyer drilled a 35-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining, putting the Braves back in front, 37-34.
• Texas Southern covered 59 yards in 19 seconds, and Arana connected from 25 yards as regulation expired, tying the game at 37 and forcing overtime.

Overtime

• Texas Southern possessed the ball first, but the Alcorn defense held the Tigers to a 48-yard Arana field goal, giving TSU a 40-37 advantage.
• Alcorn then took possession at the Texas Southern 25 and kept the drive alive with a fourth-down conversion.
• The Braves reached the 1-yard line, setting the stage for Robertson.
• Robertson powered into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the afternoon, sealing Alcorn's 43-40 overtime victory.
• It marked Alcorn's second overtime victory in three games after the Braves defeated UAPB, 53-51, in double overtime in the Southern Heritage Classic on Sept. 12.

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