LORMAN — Alcorn State had to wait an extra week for its first complete football game.

The wait was worth it, but not easy.

Alcorn State (1-0) topped Southwestern Conference rival Alabama State (0-2) 21-18 after senior Eric Foster blocked a field goal in the final seconds Saturday.

The win gave first-year head coach Fred McNair his first victory as ASU’s coach.

“If you want to win like that, I’ll take it,” McNair said. “I can’t say enough about the way we performed tonight … Hopefully the rest will come easier.”

Alcorn led 21-10 in the fourth quarter when Alabama State’s Dylan Renaker recovered a fumbled punt. The Hornets scored and converted the 2-point conversion with 5:59 remaining.

On Alcorn’s ensuing drive, running back Marquis Warford fumbled at midfield, and Alabama State took over with 4:24 to play. The Braves fumbled three times in the game, losing all three.

Alabama State advanced the ball to the Braves’ 18-yard line and took a timeout with 24-seconds remaining. Foster leapt behind his defensive linemen and tipped a line-drive kick, and Alcorn recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

“I have to give it to my defense, they helped make that happen,” Foster said. “Hopefully there are more (big plays) to come.”

Alcorn State jumped on the board first. The Braves faced a fourth-and-7 at the Alabama State 30-yard line when kicker Corey McCullough connected with Terry Whittington on a fake punt to extend the drive.

“I can’t tell all my secrets, but it’s something we saw on film, and it was a perfect time for it,” McNair said.

Warford, who had been frustrated by an average of 2.25 yards per carry for most of the first quarter, capped off the drive, finding the edge on a sweep for a 13-yard score.

Alabama State then rattled off 10 unanswered points in the second quarter. Hornets running back Khalid Thomas tied the game on a 9-yard reception from quarterback Quinterris Toppings. To close out the second half, Alabama State mustered a drive that last just under seven minutes that went deep into Braves’ territory before settling for a 26-yard field goal. Alabama State led at the half 10-7.

Alcorn State redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Johnson entered for starter Lenorris Footman in the second half. Footman left with a lower leg injury. When he exited, Footman was 5-for-12 passing for 62 yards passing and 45 yards rushing.

“He just has a mild ankle (sprain),” McNair said. “He’ll be fine. We didn’t want to risk it getting worse in the second half.”

On his first drive, Johnson led the Braves down the field and scampered in a 17-yard touchdown that gave the Braves the lead. Johnson continued to roll on the next drive, connecting on 4-for-5 passing. De’Lance Turner capped the drive off with a 2-yard burst into the end zone to give his team a 21-10 lead.

Johnson finished the game 5-for-11 with 62 yards passing and 61 yards rusing.

“Coach was calling up-tempo plays,” Johnson said. “It was either throw it out on the bubble or give it off to the back.”

Alcorn State’s secondary, which gave up the fewest passing yards in the conference last season, continued its dominance with former defensive backs coach Cedric Thomas in his first full game as defensive coordinator.

Alabama State was 9-for-21 passing and forced to run the ball 50 times in the game.

“Coach Thomas does a great job with those guys in the back end,” McNair said.

Warford had 18 carries for 87 yards for the Braves. Jaborian McKenzie hauled in five catches for 52 yards.

Alcorn State will be back in action Thursday night when it hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff.