LORMAN, Miss.—Southern’s defense came up big Saturday as the Jaguars notched its first Southwestern Athletic Conference win over rival Alcorn State 15-12 in Jack Spinks Stadium.
The defense, a unit that’s given up 30 or more points twice this season held the struggling Alcorn offense once on a drive beginning on the SU 11 yard line, resulting in a field goal, keeping the score within a touchdown 12-7 with 12:24 remaining.
Then on a drive starting at the SU 23 yard line, safety Justin Foster intercepted ASU quarterback Tim Buckley on a third and 19 setting up Bryant Lee and the offense in what would culminate in a come from behind game winning drive.
“Those stops were mandatory,” said SU cornerback Michael Williams. “We played a tremendous defensive game and the offense hung in there. We just capitalized on their mistakes and won it as a team.”
SU’s final defensive stand provided the offense one last chance to score the go ahead touchdown. Three plays later Lee connected with Corderious Gregory with on a third and six with 1:48 remaining. Then, to ensure Alcorn couldn’t win the game with a field goal, Lee hit fullback Alvin Fosselman on the two point conversion, pushing the lead to 15-12 with 1:43 left to play.
The touchdown catch was Gregory’s first a Jaguar.
“I had to make a play some type of way,” said Gregory. “We had to score, that was the only thing on my mind.”
SU (2-2, 1-0 SWAC) was shut out in the first half, but still managed to post 451 yards total offense as Lee went 24-for-35 for 271 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Running back Kendrick Smith went over 100 yards for the second time this season with 16 carries for 112 yards and receiver Clevan White had six receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore Silas Gibbs also had 99 yards on seven carries.
“We won it as a team,” said Lee. “I had an off game but the guys stuck with me and the O-line opened the holes for the running backs.”
But more important, Alcorn, a team with three turnovers (two fumbles and one interception) and only 241 yards total offense had a chance to win the game scoring only two touchdowns in four games as C.J. Byrd came into the game in place of Lee after he was knocked out of the game after colliding with safety Idly Etienne on the far sideline.
But, to Alcorn’s demise Buckley continued to struggle as he completed 10-of-26 passes for 102 yards with one interception. Alcorn’s backfield also struggled as Buckley led the Braves’ rushing attack with 108 yards on 12 carries.
“We have a good football team,” said SU coach Pete Richardson. “It’s a team sport. We struggled offensively, but the defense kept hanging in there and making plays for us. Eventually we turned it around.”
SU was shut out in the first half for the first time all season. SU was 0-of-8 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth. SU also failed to score on its lone trip to the red zone as Alcorn clung to a 3-0 lead.
“It’s always a rivalry and they play us tough,” Richardson said. “We just have to learn each game you have to bring your ‘A’ game. We made a lot of miscues in that first half that kept them alive. We just have to regroup and come back.”
Mississippi Ties
SU and Alcorn have several ties, including coach Marino Casem spending time as head coach at SU and head coach and athletic director at ASU. SU fullback Alvin Fosselman played high school ball with Alcorn players Matthew Maiden and Jelendrick Turner at Wilkinson County High. The three also competed against Alcorn standout Lee Robinson (Amite County High).
Notes
This was first-ever night game between the two schools with a 5 p.m. start. The SWAC office announced Gibbs (5-10, 215) earned SWAC Newcomer of the Week honors while Lee’s game was listed under “other notable performances.”
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