Braves win first '08 contest

Alcorn State defeats UA-Pine Bluff, 13-3

By Jeff Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Friday, September 19, 2008

Lorman — Ernest Jones has waited three long weeks to pick up his first win as Alcorn State’s head football coach. It turned out that it couldn’t have come at a better time and place.

Alcorn (1-3) used a stifling defense and just enough offense to slug out a 13-3 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-4) on a rare Thursday night game that was televised by ESPNU.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Jones said. “Our fans deserve (to have the win at home). To get it on ESPNU on our campus in front of our fans is awesome. I’m very excited to finally get my first win but I’m more excited for the guys who have worked so hard,” Jones said.

Even though the game was between two SWAC teams, it did not count in the conference standings due to the conference shrinking the number of SWACconference games from nine to seven.

Jones said Alcorn’s defensive game plan was to stack the line of scrimmage and make Pine Bluff beat them throwing the football.

That plan worked to perfection as the Golden Lions running duo of Martell Mallett and Mickey Dean rushed for a combined 79 yards on 20 carries. Meanwhile, Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterbacks Jonathan Moore and Gvona Turner combined for only a 50 percent completion rate and 127 yards.

Pine Bluff’s only points came late in the first quarter on a 25-yard field goal by Carlos Reyes.

“It was an outstanding defensive effort,” Jones said. “No matter what our offense did, our defense was not going to let (Pine Bluff) into the end zone. I’m very proud of our defense.”

While the defense was throttling the Golden Lions, the Alcorn offense was doing just enough to get by.

After being shut out the first quarter and a half, the Braves finally got on the scoreboard with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Tim Buckley to Emmanuel Arceneaux midway through the second quarter.

It was the start to a great night for the senior receiver. Arceneaux, who had struggled through the previous two games when the Braves were shut out, caught seven balls for 74 yards in the victory.

“I did what I am supposed to do,” Arceneaux said. “I had a point to prove. I’ve been in a slump and I got that monkey off my back with that touchdown catch. I just needed that one catch to get me started.”

Alcorn dodged a bullet right before halftime when Reyes’ 41-yard field goal hit the right upright with 7 seconds left in the half and then got three points of their own on their opening drive of the second half.

The Braves moved 35 yards in four minutes and capped the drive off with a 37-yard field goal from Taylor Richardson.

The Alcorn State defense made that score stand up the entire second half, completely throttling the Golden Lion offense.

UAPB never penetrated deeper than the Alcorn 39-yard line in four second half drives. Two drives ended in punts, another ended with a lost fumble and the Golden Lions final possession ended when they turned it over on downs.

Alcorn finally iced the game late in the fourth quarter. They took over at the Pine Bluff 49-yard line following a punt with 6:08 left and went on a time-consuming drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal by Richardson with 1:57 remaining.

“I told the offense that if they got two first downs we would win the game,” Jones said. “I told them not to let our defense come back on the field until after we scored, and we did that.”

Alcorn quarterback Tim Buckley finished the game with 100 passing yards and a touchdown before he was knocked out of the game with bruised ribs early in the fourth quarter. Jones said Buckley would be fine and could have come back in the game if he was needed and will be starting next week at home against Southern.

“He is a soldier,” Jones said. “He’s not going to let that hit bother him and he’ll be ready to go next week.”