LORMAN, Miss. – For the second consecutive year, the Alcorn State University football program used a big fourth quarter to defeat Southern, as it pulled away late for a 39-24 final Saturday in the Cricket Wireless SWAC Championship at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
The Braves (9-3, 6-1 SWAC) trailed 17-16 heading into the fourth quarter, and were still down 24-22 with 8:43 remaining. Alcorn took the lead on a 23-yard field goal by senior Corey McCullough, and then put the game away with a six-yard rushing touchdown by senior De’Shawn Waller and a pick-six by senior Taurence Wilson.
Senior wide receiver LeCharles Pringle was named the SWAC Championship Offensive MVP. He hauled in a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown.
At quarterback, junior Felix “Triggerman” Harper – the SWAC Offensive Player of the Year – ended with 226 yards and a touchdown.
Two of Alcorn’s touchdowns came on the ground as Waller scored one and sophomore Trey Turner ran in the other.
For the Jaguars (8-5, 6-1 SWAC), Ladarius Skelton threw for 159 yards and rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns. Jarrod Sims ran for a game-high 149 yards and a touchdown.
The game was filled with turnovers, but the Braves won the turnover margin with three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The Jaguars intercepted three passes.
It was the second year in a row where Alcorn trailed by Southern by one point heading into the fourth quarter. Last year, it was down 28-27 when it scored the final 10 points of the game. In both games, the Braves took control in the fourth.
Alcorn advances to the 2019 Celebration Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 11 a.m. (CT) in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.
Courtesy: Alcorn State Athletics
[…] Braves won their second consecutive SWAC Championship and sixth straight SWAC East Division title last year. It was the 17th conference championship in program history and the fourth in the last six […]