LORMAN — The rematch is on, but this time, the stakes are even higher.

Alcorn State and Grambling State will face off in Houston for the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship Dec. 5, but the two are quite familiar with one another from an earlier encounter this season.

Grambling handed Alcorn its first conference loss of the season in October, going into Lorman and edging the Braves 35-34 in overtime. And since then, the Tigers have been rolling on a four game winning streak with a win most recently in the Bayou Classic against in-state rival Southern University, 34-23.

The Tigers (8-2) went undefeated in SWAC play this season. Meanwhile, Alcorn (8-3) took two losses in the conference.

In the first game, Alcorn dominated on the stat sheet, outgaining Grambling by almost 100 yards on offense, and also holding the ball for 19 minutes more than the Tigers.

However, the Braves crumbled in the third quarter, giving up a two score lead, forcing the game into overtime.

After a Grambling touchdown to start the overtime period, Alcorn was able to answer with a touchdown of its own. But, the ensuing extra point was blocked, giving the Tigers the win.

Alcorn has gone 4-1 since the loss to Grambling, with its most recent win coming against heated rival Jackson State in a sloppy 14-10 game.

The Braves turned the ball over four times in the contest and scored a near season low offensively.

The Braves were able to rush for 198 yards in the game with Darryan Ragsdale recording a game-high 101 yards. Lenorris Footman added 76.

The Tigers have had success both on the ground and through the air this season.

Quarterback Johnathan Williams has racked up more than 1,800 passing yards this season to go with 21 touchdowns, while Martez Carter, 536 yards and seven touchdowns, and Jestin Kelly, 492 yards and two touchdowns, lead the Grambling rushing attack.

Grambling has been solid stopping the run so far this season, giving up just 121 yards per game, but the Tigers have struggled to stop the pass allowing more than 330 yards through the air per game.