LORMAN &045; You can bet if there’s any one play from last season that runs through everyone’s mind, it’s that fourth-and-1 play last year against Texas Southern.

The Braves held a 20-16 lead with a little more than four minutes to play and held the Tigers to a fourth down on the ASU 10. The entire game was on the line, as was what turned out to be the entire season.

Gerred Lunnon got the first down, and the Tigers later scored to won the game 23-20. Since then that memory has been haunting the Braves, akin to being stood up for your senior prom. They were left at home, having to hear from everyone else about the SWAC Championship game.

So now it’s payback time when Texas Southern visits today for homecoming. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. in a game to be televised by Fox Sports Net.

&uot;I feel that if we would have beaten them last year we would have played for the SWAC championship,&uot; Alcorn safety Jeffrey Hobbs said. &uot;We already let Alabama State get us. We can’t let another team get us. All through the week we were talking about bouncing back. We could have done better (last week). We got a lead on them, but it was a sloppy ending.&uot;

That score last week against Prairie View is about the only difference between this season and last. The Braves played solid for three quarters against Prairie View before taking a 26-15 win, unlike last season’s 66-0 pounding the week before the Texas Southern debacle.

But the Braves are in the same boat as a year ago &045; there’s really no more room for a hiccup after losing to Alabama State if they want to get in the SWAC Championship.

&uot;There shouldn’t be any motivational speeches needed for any of the games left if we want to at least put ourselves in a position (to win the East),&uot; Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. &uot;In case Alabama State plays flat down the stretch, we’ll be in a situation to take advantage of that.

&uot;It won’t be a situation where you have to stomp and scream and holler to get these guys motivated. It should motivate everybody to do what they need to do and do well against Texas Southern.&uot;

The matchup, meanwhile, is one of two sputtering offenses, which is hard to believe with the weapons the Braves have in their passing game. Donald Carrie and the offense got back on track a bit last week in the win against Prairie View, but the Braves went through a stretch where points were hard to come by.

The offense still ranks ninth in the conference in yards rushing at 78.4 yards per game, but the passing game is third-best in the conference. Yet the offense’s 11 touchdowns scored is ninth in the conference as well.

&uot;That’s what you don’t want to be &045; a one-dimensional team,&uot; offensive coordinator John McKenzie said. &uot;But everybody is thinking we’re going to throw the ball. We got off to a good start with (back Robert) Lester. Alabama State put a blue print on how to defend us &045; don’t let them run. That’s what other teams are trying to do to us.&uot;

The offense found a rhythm last week not only in the yardage &045; Carrie’s 276 yards passing was his highest since the opener against Grambling &045; but no turnovers. It was the first time the Braves did not have a giveaway all season, something the Braves hadn’t done since the win last season over Southern &045; a streak of eight games.

&uot;That was a welcome sight,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;It gives you an opportunity to win &045; not turning the ball over and executing. We have to execute, especially if they turn the ball over. It makes a difference. We’re still not executing to the fullest, but we’re executing much better than we have in the past.&uot;

It’s the same rally cry for Texas Southern, a team that has struggled mightily on offense this season. The Tigers rank last in every offensive category &045; except yards passing, where they rank ninth &045; due to a number of freshmen being moved up to replace injured starters.

Alcorn’s defense has a chance to play better against the run, an area where coaches still are not totally satisfied.

&uot;On defense, we’ve got to stay focused and make some tackles,&uot; Hobbs said. &uot;We’ve got to make plays. Against Alabama State, we didn’t make the plays. I put the loss on me. I felt like I lost the game against Alabama State.&uot;

The Tigers have yet to score more than one touchdown in a game since losing to Alabama State in Week 2, 55-15.

But quarterback Tino Edgecomb is talented and could cause some problems today, and the Tigers will likely give it to Raymond Gilmore a bunch.

&uot;We were playing pretty solid defense for the most part (last week), but we think we’ve still got to get better,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;For some reason or another, we’re relaxing a little bit.&uot;