Alcorn State throttles Southern 56-16, Jaguars to put loss behind them

Whenever Southern and Alcorn State match up against one another, the Jaguars can always expect a fierce battle from the pesky Braves. The night of September 27, the outcome was never in question. Alcorn State used a veteran and balanced offensive attack along with relentless pressure on defense to overwhelm the inexperienced Jaguars in a 56-16 conquest on Saturday in Jack Spinks-Casem Stadium. The Braves were able to overcome four turnovers, a crucial stat that can often decide wins/losses, by gaining 410 yards on the ground and 682 yards total. Alcorn’s defense did not give up any points in the second half and their offense converted 11-of-15 on third down. While the defense struggled to get off the field, Southern’s offense struggled to stay on it, converting 8-of-19 for the game.
“On third down, you’ve got to make plays. They (ASU’s defense) kicked our butt on third down, and offensively they kicked our butt on third down. They just made plays,” said Head Coach Odums.
Alcorn’s veteran quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. used his experience to take advantage Southern’s youth-filled secondary, passing for 224 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for another. The Braves’ rushing stable was led by Darryan Ragsdale and Jeanerette-native Anthony Williams III. Ragsdale had 13 carries and finished with 125 yards, while Williams led the team with 151 yards on 17 carries.
Though the final score was lopsided, Southern had its chances early. Southern received the ball first and the offense took flight after true freshman quarterback Austin Howard completed a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Reggie Evans for a diving catch that put SU on the Braves’14-yard line. However, Greg Pittman’s 36-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked and fell just short of crossing goal post. After defensive lineman Gabe Echols forced a Ragsdale fumble that SU defensive back Bryan Anderson recovered, Southern struck first when Justin Morgan caught a tipped pass on third down and sped past all ASU defenders in pursuit on the way to a 55-yard touchdown, giving them a 7-0 lead. Alcorn tied the score on their following possession after LaDarrien Davis made a controversial catch on the far right side of the end zone that was reviewed in the booth and soon confirmed. That may have been the most distinct microcosm of how the night went for the Jaguars, getting the short end of the stick on several opportunities that could have created substantial momentum shifts into their favor. Alcorn responded with two long, debilitating drives in each half because SU could not take advantage of mistakes. The first happened late in the first quarter with the score tied at 7, defensive back Danny Johnson intercepted a forced Gibbs pass, returning it to ASU’s 1-yard line. Only to have the huge play called back after blitzing defensive back Rhaheim Ledbetter was flagged for being offside. Gibbs and the Alcorn offense then made the most of their second chance by engineering an 89-yard scoring drive, thanks largely in part to a 51-yard pass connection. Howard fumbled on the Jaguars’ next possession and the Braves recovered the pigskin at SU’s 38-yard line, eventually bringing the deficit to 21-7 after Gibbs’ 6-yard touchdown pass to Alondrea Young. Then ASU took complete control of the game on their following possession after Gibbs scrambled around the SU defense for a 23-yard touchdown rush, giving his team a commanding 28-7 lead. Wide receiver Willie Quinn continued his streak of games with big plays on the following kickoff, returning it 76-yards to the ASU 26. Pittman finished the drive connecting on a 37-yard field goal. Southern recovered another fumble after punting on the following possession, closing the out second quarter strong with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Quinn, bringing the score to a manageable 28-16 deficit at halftime.
After attaining three Alcorn fumbles in the first half, SU snagged another on Alcorn’s first offensive possession in the second. This time Monroe recovering Ledbetter’s forced fumble at the ASU 49. Southern failed to get anything going and punter Paul Soden pinned ASU inside of their own 2-yard line. That’s when Alcorn’s offense exerted their will, driving 98-yards unabated through SU’s defense, concluding the drive on Jaborian McKenzie’s back-breaking 21-yard touchdown rush. That gave the Braves a momentum-altering 35-16 lead and Southern never got any closer. The Jaguar coaches and players were obviously disappointed in the loss, but they understand that young players suddenly thrust into starting roles, come with unavoidable growing pains.
“We’re growing every week. We have a young team now because a lot of thing have been going on with eligibility and different things. We have some young guys in place of some would-be starters. These guys are playing higher than anyone’s expectations. Each week, we’re going to grow and we’re going to learn,” said fullback/linebacker Brian McCain.
Up next for the Jaguars is a homecoming matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday October 4, their first SWAC game in A.W. Mumford Stadium. The SWAC Western division title is still well within reach.
“We’re going to be measured by what we do moving forward. We’re going to be all right. It never looks that way after a loss, but we’re not the football team that we’re going to be in October. There’s a long way to go. I told the players ‘Let’s close out the month, put it behind us and have a good, fresh start in October,” said Odums.
With the younger players gaining invaluable confidence as the season progresses, there is no reason to not believe that SU can’t pull together and compete for the top spot in the Western division. Regardless of this past weekend’s outcome, Southern’s primary goal is still intact, winning the conference championship. This Saturday, the Jaguars look to move forward and begin their quest to repeating history.