LORMAN – It was a game of missed opportunities for the Alcorn State Braves Saturday night.

Alcorn lost a shootout 35-28 to the Alabama State Hornets.

The Braves dropped three interceptions and had a punt return for a touchdown called back by a penalty.

The negated punt return touchdown may have been the biggest play of the night.

Late in the third quarter, the Indians forced the Hornets to punt from their own five yard line.

The Braves had the ball on their own 46 yard line after a fair catch, but the Hornets were called for a holding penalty.

Alcorn head coach Dr. Johnny Thomas elected to accept the penalty and force the Hornets to kick again.

On the second punt, Braves punt returner Chris Lee took the ball 54 yards for a touchdown, but this time the Braves were called for a holding penalty and the touchdown was called back.

&uot;Anytime you get a penalty on a punt return you want to take the penalty,&uot; Thomas said. &uot;We took the penalty because we felt we could block or return their punts all night long.&uot;

The Hornets stopped the Braves in four plays after the negated touchdown.

Alcorn led 28-21 at the time and had just held the Hornets scoreless in the third quarter.

The Braves missed another opportunity early in the fourth quarter when Steve Vaccaro picked up a Hornet fumble on a punt.

The Braves had the ball on the Hornet 45 yard line but failed to gain any yards and were forced to punt.

The Hornets started from their own 16 yard line and put together a six-play, 84-yard scoring drive to get within one point of the Alcorn lead.

Kevin Taylor scored on a 33-yard swing pass from Hornet quarterback Darnell Kennedy.

Hornet kicker Randy Lefevre missed the PAT and Alcorn led 28-27.

Alcorn took the ensuing kickoff to their own 48-yard line but were held to only eight yards on three tries and had to punt.

Alcorn punter Erik Norman’s kick appeared to be a nail in the coffin for the Hornets — it was downed on the two yard line.

But Kennedy lead the Hornets on an 11-play, 98-yard drive to win the game.

He was helped along the way by a pass interference call and receiver Kenard Williams, who caught two passes for 37 yards.