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photo by Steve VanGunda
Alcorn State’s Lee Robinson Jr. tackles Southern University’s Del Roberts during Saturday night’s game. The Braves led much of the way but Southern scored with less than two minutes left to escape with a 15-12 victory.
Alcorn lets late lead slip away vs. Southern
Published Sunday, September 28, 2008
LORMAN — Alcorn State University had two big opportunities late to take a game from its neighboring rival Southern University.
But the Braves failed on both their offensive and defensive chances for victory, falling to the Jaguars, 15-12, on homecoming.
Alcorn State was up 12-7 in the fourth quarter after Taylor Richardson hit his second field goal of the night.
Two drives later, the Jaguars moved the ball 79 yards downfield to reach the Braves’ 1-yard line, but second-string quarterback C.J. Byrd, in for a shaken-up Bryant Lee, fumbled the snap on fourth down to turn over the ball.
However, Alcorn failed to capitalize on its defensive work and was forced to punt after just three plays.
Lee returned for that drive, tossing a 21-yard pass to Corderious Gregory for a touchdown. Lee also sent a pass to Alvin Fosselman for the two-point conversion to go ahead with under two minutes left.
Alcorn State was not quite out of it yet. They had time to at least kick a field goal and tie the game.
But an incomplete pass and a sack for an eight-yard loss by Southern’s James Dexter preceded a crushing interception from ASU quarterback Tim Buckley to defensive back Justin Foster, who returned in 9 yards to effectively seal the deal.
“It seems like every week there’s a different type of scenario that’s put upon us, and these guys haven’t seen these types of scenarios. When those opportunities come, we’ve got to take advantage of them,” said Alcorn State coach Ernest Jones. “Expect to have an opportunity to win the ball game, and you’ll be ready when these situations come. We have to continue to work on ourselves. They hear that all the time, they’ve seen that in the fourth quarter they’ve got an opportunity to win it. You’ve got to take advantage of the opportunities as they come.”
The Alcorn State defense held Southern scoreless through the first half, but Lee ended up 24-of-35 for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jaguars recorded 451 total yards of offense in 80 plays.
“Our defense is the strength of our football team right now. They’re going to have to hold us up until our offense can come along, and they’re trying,” Jones said. “They did a good job — they were fighting their butts off — but they played 80 snaps, and we’ve got to do a better job on the offensive side of the football. As we got late in the game, there was a bit of a breakdown, and we gave them the opportunity to put some points on the board.”
Jones said his offense is beginning to pick up after going scoreless in two of the first three games of the season.
But Buckley, who rushed 12 times for 108 yards and a score, is still learning the offense. He was also 10-of-26 in the air with 102 yards.
“It’s important in this offense that our quarterback can make some plays with his feet, which he did,” Jones said. “But at the same time, he needs to be able to make the throws that we need him to make. And at the same time, our wide receivers need to actually catch the throws that he’s able to put out there. It takes a little bit of time to get it, but once he gets it down we’ll be able to move the ball a little bit better down the field.”
Jones said it was especially frustrating to lose when the stands were packed for the first time this season, with fans expectant after the Braves’ first win of the season Sept. 18.
There were a few scuffles on the field that he said may have taken his players’ focus off the game a bit.
The Braves travel to New Mexico State in Las Cruces next weekend.
It’s a tough loss, to be in such a good football game where you’re out there fighting. We ask our kids to fight for four quarters, every single play, and they were out there fighting,” he said. “We had an opportunity to win the football game in the fourth quarter, and to not do that, that’s tough. It’s a tough loss, especially with a team that you thought you could win against. Southern played a very good football game, but it was definitely a game we thought we could win.”
Comments
Posted by BJ1979 (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a good game the defense played very well. The offense was ok at times. Basically the same thing happened with SE Louisiana. The Braves gonna hav to learn how finish games out. I can see a difference in them though.GO BRAVES!!! 08'
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dear krystan oliphant,
please note it was not homecoming for alcorn; and i hope that the braves appreciate the privlege of hosting the jaguar nation. good game braves, we will consider keeping you on our schedule in the coming years, despite the comments by your coach last week; and a few of your less enlightened fans before and during the game. go jags
Posted by pride (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Joyful what cloud are you floating on ? Bottom feeders talking trash after win !
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SORRY YOU DID NOT READ THE COMMENTS BY ASU COACH IN THEADVOCATE THIS WEEK ABOUT SOUTHERN FANS AND OF COURSE YOU DID NOT OR NOTICE ALL OF THE TRASH TALK BEING DONE BY ASU FANS BEFORE AND DURING THE GAME OR TE FACT THAT THE THE MOST ATTENTED GAME FOR ASU IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS SU THE NEXT WAS LAST YEARS HOMECOMING WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY A TOTAL OF 12,000 PEOPLE
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And you wonder why people hate southern. I went there and cant stand them.
Posted by gator (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
. If you really want to know what's real , LSU is the bomb in Baton Rouge . Look at SU's campus . It's in the absolute worst part of Baton Rouge surrounded by all those smelly , cancer causing petro chemical plants . Coming to ASU literally was a breath of fresh air for Southern fans .
Posted by braveone (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no doubt alcorn should have won the game. play calling is an issue that the coaching staff has to improve on. Thank goodness #23 Brumfield is getting a chance to play running back. Brumfield has excellent speed, toughness and vision. Alcorn should have scored 6 ponits in the first half when we were on the 5 yard line. The play was called for Brumfield to go up the middle. Bad call, let him get outside. We score then we win the ballgame. Hobson should be the QB. He can run the offense better. Use Buckley as a wide receiver, punt and kick return guy. Let him use that tremendous ability to run and made big plays. Throw to your tight ends some. Use #5 Philcher as a wide out also. Alcorn has the offensive weapons. The coaches need to put the right players in the right positions and call the right plays that we give us the best opportunity to win. Southern over pursued on defense, we did not run a reverse, counter, trap or anything to take advantage of that. The boys played hard enough to win, the offensive coaches is where the breakdown was. Scrap the no huddle offense it is not working, we don't get the play off any faster and the kids look confused by all of the signals coming in from the sideline. Let's get it together offensive coaches we can still made a good run for a good season. Congratulations players, you have my full support.
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gator, what kind of self hate stuff is that but if you want to be real then let's the reason why the ayre's case took so long in mississippi was that attitude you just showed that is also why you will never develop any professional schools attract a larger student base or do anything else at asu, until you acknowledge your SUperior's you will always think that the other mans ice is colder, sugar is sweeter, and grass is greener.
Posted by number1bravefan (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can see it now: 2008 SWAC Championship "The Purple and Gold Bowl" Alcorn State University (East Champion) vs. Prairie View A&M (West Champion. YES, SOUTHERN JAGUARS, Prairie View will be WEST CHAMPIONS). Alcorn's defense has to be #1 in the SWAC. Giving up only 15 points to Southern makes a statement. Offense will get better. Southern will never admit it, but Alcorn was clearly the better team. Southern thought this was going to be a blowout, overlooking us for Jackson State. SU's fans need to learn to sit on their side instead the home side, because everytime I visit Southern, they make us MOVE to the other side. I promise you, Prairie View will bring SU back to reality. Alcorn Braves, we can still win this thing. I believe in you. GO BRAVES!!!
Posted by suhater (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was unable to attend the game.
I just want to know if su's heroic come back was legit and without help from the refs,
and were the refs fair without a lot of controversial calls throughout the game.
Posted by SUJags (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This game shouldn't have been close, it should have been an easy blowout. We have to get better at putting away inferior teams and not leave points on the board. You can't make that many trips to the red zone and not get points and expect to win many games.
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 28, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
number1bravefan wishful thinking, both teams have a long way to go who knows how it will turn out . your visitors side is not big enough for the jaguar nation. most of the game tickets that were sold said general admission and if i pay the same price as u and the game is general admission then i can sit where i please, however mumford offers very few general admission seats that is why u had to move so blame your administration for that one. further check the game stats like total yards, passing yards,rushing yards, etc., before claiming moral vicctories like alcorn was the better team; although southerns offense did everything it could to give the victory to alcorn; the stats and the score both say that the better team won, and only time will tell about pvu .
Posted by pride (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 2:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Joy I was born and raised in Louisiana and graduated from LSU . I see nothing superior about SU .
Posted by SUJags (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pride, I see nothing special about LSU, what's your point?
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So pride if that is the case why are you on here interjecting yourself and your school into something that is not any of your or your school's business. but since you have done that, then when will the student body get lsu supporters to stop waiving the pruple and gold rebel flag, since it is offensive to a lot of people.
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn sucks.............they have a high school field......thats why SU on their side...DUMMY GO SUJAGS!!!!!!!
Posted by pride (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa SUJags hold your horses ! Put your gun back in your pocket . We all know about the violence that follows this program . SU is whatever you believe it is .
Posted by dransom (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you comment 100% (braveone):
no doubt alcorn should have won the game. play calling is an issue that the coaching staff has to improve on. Thank goodness #23 Brumfield is getting a chance to play running back. Brumfield has excellent speed, toughness and vision. Alcorn should have scored 6 ponits in the first half when we were on the 5 yard line. The play was called for Brumfield to go up the middle. Bad call, let him get outside. We score then we win the ballgame. Hobson should be the QB. He can run the offense better. Use Buckley as a wide receiver, punt and kick return guy. Let him use that tremendous ability to run and made big plays. Throw to your tight ends some. Use #5 Philcher as a wide out also. Alcorn has the offensive weapons. The coaches need to put the right players in the right positions and call the right plays that we give us the best opportunity to win. Southern over pursued on defense, we did not run a reverse, counter, trap or anything to take advantage of that. The boys played hard enough to win, the offensive coaches is where the breakdown was. Scrap the no huddle offense it is not working, we don't get the play off any faster and the kids look confused by all of the signals coming in from the sideline. Let's get it together offensive coaches we can still made a good run for a good season. Congratulations players, you have my full support.
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PRIDE is so stupid......LSU have crime there all the times. They just dont report it cause it white school. PRIDE probably went to some JUCO or something.
Posted by joyful (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So pride what about the violence all the murder's of lsu students during recient years is lsu or their program responsible for that violence.
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ItsMeAgain,
If you're going to be a representative of any HBCU, please make sure there's some form of subject/verb agreement in your sentences. Also, please pay attention to your sentence structure.
Posted by flyingdutchmen (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fool who post the question about me.........u every heard of text typing dummy?
Posted by ATL_ALUMNI (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn will get it done....A rebuilding team that holds a supposedly "good" SU team to 15 points says a lot......Best believe that ASU will regain that fame again.....and will be in Birmingham come December...All the haters..keep hating...thats MOTIVATION.....and Alcorn has one of the best stadiums in the SWAC with MAJOR renovations to come...So we if SUck ....why do you come down....We may be located in what you call the "country" but a least its a safe, secure,BEAUTIFUL campus and they don't find students shot to death in the dorm rooms and robbed.....So for now enjoy Ghetto Classic 08....who will start shooting first????
Posted by gator (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
Well stated ATL_Alumni ! May I also add that ALcorn is the perfect environment for students serious about getting and education . Plus a picture perfect campus worthy of any post card .
Posted by Incognito (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Text typing, ok. However, your inability to effectively communicate with others is a direct reflection on your inadequate academics.
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To all these SU haters........SU is the best SWAC school. I grad..in 2006 from SU and have a job making 100,000 plus. Yea......Alcorn is pretty..i have cousins that attend there.
Posted by braveslover (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn will always be the best to me no matter if they win or lose.....I love to see #27 "K.Hall" on the field. Keep up the good work Braves.....
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I'm so glad, I love ASU! I'm so glad, I love ASU. I'm so glad, I love ASU. Glory Hallelujah! Whoo! I"m so glad."
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To all these SU haters........SU is the best SWAC school. I grad..in 2006 from SU and have a job making 100,000 plus. Yea......Alcorn is pretty..i have cousins that attend there.
Like you are the only one in the 100+ club. By the way, is the engineering dept. still suspect? IT Dept. 2008 grad. May 10th to be exact.
Posted by pride (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
" Itsmeagain " the fact that you claim to make over $100k yearly is simply amazing ! It only proves that there is a God in the heavens and you should be on your knees daily . Especially in light of the fact that you seem to be incapable of formulating basic sentence structure .
We need to get away from working for other people and making them richer . If your employer is paying you $100k yearly , you better believe he's making millions off your efforts . I haven't worked for other people since graduating college . All of my kids make their money either as business owners or venture capitalists . I've never encouraged them to just want a job . You are just too limited and at the mercy of others with just a job title . You are always one payday away from being on the street with a job these days .
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical of someone living off others graces. I don't claim, it's a fact. Lets put pockets together. I had before graduating and getting retirement from military. So when your failed business falls, don't knock on my door step. This is a comment column and not english 101/102. A person like you are limited on common sense and living in the past through your children.
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