LORMAN — After dropping their first conference game of the year last week against Texas Southern, the Alcorn State Braves are looking to get back on the winning track.

But it sure isn’t going to be easy as the Braves will head to Grambling, La., to face the only undefeated team in SWAC play, the Grambling State Tigers.

After losing their first game of the season to Football Bowl Subdivision team Louisiana Tech, the Tigers (4-1, 4-0 SWAC) have reeled off four victories in a row, including a 22-7 victory over Alabama State last week.

The Tigers are first in the conference in rushing offense at more than 232 yards per game, and Alcorn State head coach Earnest Collins knows his defense will have to stop the Grambling running back duo of Frank Warren and Cornelius Walker.

“(Grambling’s) running game is phenomenal,” Collins said. “We will have to make sure tackles to stop their great running backs.”

Grambling’s running success is something the Braves (3-2, 2-1 SWAC) would like to emulate, especially after they only rushed for 31 yards last week against Texas Southern.

“You look at Grambling, they are running the ball and taking care of their freshman quarterback (Anthony Carrothers),” Collins said. “That’s what we’ve got to do. We’ve got to get the run game incorporated into the offense. We only rushed the ball with a running back 11 times (against Texas Southern), and we’ve got to get that fixed so we can protect the quarterback a little bit.”

Alcorn’s true freshman quarterback Brandon Bridge had his worst game of his young career against Texas Southern, as he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

Collins hopes that learning experience will help him as he goes into Eddie Robinson Stadium on Saturday.

“(Last Saturday) was one of those games where he did some things that were characteristic of a freshman, like holding the ball and trying to make every play,” Collins said. “He’s learned from that game and every game. He definitely had a lesson in how to take care of the ball.”

A win over the Tigers would keep the Braves at least tied for first in the SWAC East division, but Collins said he isn’t worried about that.

“Every game is important because they all count,” Collins said. “We want to win every game we play. The standings are the standings. We’re 2-1 now, and we want to be 3-1 and not 2-2 after Saturday.”