Terrance Lewis’ punt return not enough to bring Alcorn back in 14-7 SWAC loss

Published 12:14 am Sunday, September 25, 2011

HOUSTON (AP) — Riko Smalls passed for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Texas Southern past Alcorn State 14-7 on Saturday.

Smalls connected with Kirk Fitzhugh for a 7-yard score in the second quarter and ran 16 yards for a TD in the third quarter for Texas Southern (2-1, 1-1 SWAC). The Tigers’ defense did the rest, holding Alcorn State (1-3, 1-3) to nine first downs and just 132 yards of total offense.

Gilbert Martin carried 24 times for 87 yards for Texas Southern, which finished with 173 yards on the ground and 333 total. The Braves’ only touchdown came when Terrance Lewis returned a punt 84 yards for a score with 6:40 to play. But the Tigers ran out the clock with a 12-play drive that included punter Francois Ejiofor’s 24-yard run on a fourth-and-17 play.

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Alcorn State will travel to Montgomery, Ala., next week to face Alabama State in its fifth-straight SWAC contest to start the season.