LORMAN, Miss. – In a game that featured a lot of offense, it was the defense of the Alcorn State University football program that made a stand, in the end, to defeat Alabama A&M 34-28 Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium on Senior Day.
The Braves (7-3, 5-1 SWAC) led 34-28 when the dangerous AAMU (6-5, 3-3 SWAC) offense came on the field with 2:40 left. Alcorn thought it won the game after junior Juwan Taylor ran back a pick-six, but pass interference was called on the Braves to keep AAMU alive and placed the ball at the 50.
The Bulldogs continued to march down the field and called timeout with four seconds left at the Alcorn 14. On the final play, the game ended on an illegal touching penalty after the intended wide receiver stepped out of bounds in the back of the endzone, came back in and was the first to touch the ball.
The game was a shootout for the most part. The two teams combined for 1,053 yards of offense as the Braves rushed for 234 yards and passed for 288, while the Bulldogs rushed for 259 and passed for 272.
Junior LeCharles Pringle hauled in three touchdowns and a game-high 113 yards. Senior Raidarious Anderson also registered a touchdown.
Junior Felix “Triggerman” Harper threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for a career-high 79 yards. Freshman Niko Duffey also turned in a 100-yard rushing performance and a touchdown.
On defense, junior Juwan Taylor shined with 10 tackles and an interception. Senior Javen Morrison also recorded an interception. Junior Qwynnterrio Cole reached double-figures in tackles with 10.
For AAMU, senior running back Jordan Bentley broke loose for 245 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Aqeel Glass threw for 264 yards, and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim ended with 112 receiving yards.
Alcorn will conclude the regular season next weekend when it travels to Jackson State for a 2 p.m. contest at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Tickets for the game are on sale. Click here for more information.
With a win next weekend, Alcorn would clinch home-field advantage for the SWAC Championship.
Courtesy: ASU Athletics
