LORMAN, Miss. – Junior De’Lance Turner changed the game with a special teams play, followed by a touchdown to headline the 23-20 win for the Alcorn State University football program over Texas Southern on Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium on homecoming.
The Braves (3-3, 3-2 SWAC) were struggling to move the ball offensively in the second half after junior quarterback Lenorris Footman left with a shoulder injury. With the defense stepping up and holding the Tigers (3-3, 3-2 SWAC) in-check, Turner came through with a blocked punt to give the Braves the ball at the two-yard line. Turner then punched it in on a two-yard rush for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
It marked the second week in a row that Turner blocked a punt. [lasso align=”right” cart=”y” identifier=”B01CN2DSAG” locale=”US” tag=”hbcusports-20″ ref=”amzn-ncaa-alcorn-state-braves-apple-iphone-6-plus-case-ax200801″ type=”single” id=”72055″ link_id=”5054″]
TXSO had one last chance late in the game as it moved the ball into Alcorn territory trailing by three points, but good coverage on third down by junior Jayron Harness, followed by a batted-down pass by Harness on fourth down sealed the win.
Junior wide receiver Norlando Veals had a career day with 106 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches. Footman, the reigning SWAC and College Sports Madness Offensive Player of the Week winner, was 17-for-24 throwing with two touchdown throws and 45 yards rushing before he left on the first series of the third quarter.
Alcorn’s defense limited TXSO quarterback Averion Hurts to just 14-for-37 throwing and an interception by freshman Javen Morrison. Hurts was sacked twice in the game, once each by senior Darien Anderson and junior Michael Brooks.
Anderson led the team defensively with a career-high 13 tackles and three tackles for a loss resulting in negative 22 yards. Senior Michael Hurns was also all over the field with nine tackles. Reigning SWAC Newcomer of the Week winner sophomore Trae Ferrell ended with four tackles
Austin Watts was TXSO’s top offensive player with 111 receiver yards and a touchdown catch. Sean Jones recorded a game-high 16 tackles for the Tigers.
Courtesy: Alcorn State Athletics
