Alcorn rallies from 14-point deficit to beat Florida A&M 38-20
Alcorn State overcame an early 14-point deficit to defeat Florida A&M 38-20 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium in Lorman, Mississippi. The Braves scored 38 of the final 44 points, improving to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Florida A&M fell to 2-8 and 1-5.
Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert completed 16 of 23 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 60 yards on nine carries. Malachi Augustus caught four passes for a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns, scoring on receptions of 92, 10 and 63 yards. The 92-yard catch was Alcorn’s longest play from scrimmage.
Florida A&M took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on touchdown passes from Armond Parker to Corey Petty and Kieren Jackson. After the Rattlers recovered an Alcorn fumble at the Braves’ 12-yard line, the defense stopped them on fourth down. Three plays later, Tolbert connected with Augustus for a 92-yard score.
Alcorn tied the game at 14 before halftime with a 15-play, 86-yard drive. Ernest Temple carried seven times on the possession, which ended with a 10-yard Tolbert-to-Augustus touchdown pass. The Braves missed a 20-yard field-goal attempt late in the half.
Kenyon Bowyer’s 40-yard field goal gave Alcorn its first lead, 17-14, in the third quarter. Florida A&M tied it with a 25-yard field goal, but Tolbert found Augustus for a 63-yard touchdown on the next play, putting the Braves ahead 24-17.
Florida A&M opened the fourth quarter with another field goal, cutting the margin to 24-20. Alcorn answered with a 75-yard drive that included Tolbert’s 35-yard completion to Elijah Griffin and ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Damien Jones. After the Braves forced a turnover on downs, Tolbert hit Griffin for 48 yards to the 1-yard line. Fredrick Robertson scored from there to make it 38-20 with 4:17 remaining.
Robertson led Alcorn with 96 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Temple added 56 yards on 11 carries. The Braves totaled 546 yards, including 232 rushing, and converted eight of 13 third downs. Griffin caught three passes for 90 yards.
Alcorn held Florida A&M to 59 rushing yards and 2-of-12 conversions on third down. Jakel Houston-Irving recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss, and Jaylen Mcroy had an interception on the Rattlers’ opening offensive play. Elijah Ruffin led Alcorn with seven tackles.
Alcorn’s next scheduled game is Saturday, Nov. 14, at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Kickoff is listed for 2 p.m. Central time.
Source: Original Article
