LORMAN, Miss. – In an early-season showdown between the top-two teams picked in the preseason poll from the SWAC East Division, the Alcorn State University football program held-on to a 21-18 victory over Alabama State on Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
The Hornets (0-2, 0-1 SWAC) attempted a last-second 35-yard field goal to tie the game, but it was blocked by Alcorn (1-0, 1-0 SWAC) senior ERIC FOSTER.
Redshirt-freshman quarterback NOAH JOHNSON came into the contest for the Braves at half with the team trailing 10-7. He replaced junior LENORRIS FOOTMAN after an ankle injury. Johnson guided Alcorn to back-to-back scoring drives beginning late in the third quarter to put the team ahead, 21-10.[easyazon_infoblock align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B00WYUUWT8″ locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″]
The Braves were seemingly in control until a big special teams play flipped momentum. ASU was punting from its own endzone when the ball hit the Alcorn return-man and was recovered by the Hornets. After ASU scored and converted the two-point conversion, it got the ball back again after an Alcorn fumble which inevitably led to the blocked field goal.
Both Footman and Johnson ended with exactly 62 passing yards. Johnson also ran for 61 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.
Junior running back MARQUIS WARFORD spearheaded the running game with 91 years on 18 carries and a touchdown. Senior JABORIAN MCKENZIE was the team’s leading receiver with 52 yards on five catches.
The Hornets saw quarterback Quinterris Toppings throw for a pair of touchdowns to Nigel Lee and Khalid Thomas. Darrel King rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, senior MICHAEL HURNS notched a game-high 12 tackles. Senior DARIEN ANDERSON and junior Michael Brooks were also in double-figures with 11 tackles apiece.
Courtesy: Alcorn State Athletics
