The Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (2-1, 1-0) marched into the 37th Annual Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday, September 12th at 6:00 pm in the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium against the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (UAPB) Golden Lions (1-2, 0-1) looking to prove their superiority in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Alcorn scored first in the first quarter at the 10:51 mark when Wide Receiver Tyree Kelly caught a 28-yard pass from Quarterback Jaylon Tolbert making the score 6-0, Braves. The Golden Lions responded at the 7:06 mark when Kicker Trey Glymph nailed a 40-yard field goal to make the score 6-3, Braves. The Braves tacked on another 6 at the 4:35 mark when Wide Receiver Nolan Chambers scored on a 23-yard pass from Tolbert to end the quarter with a score of 12-3, Braves.
UAPB opened the second quarter by scoring at the 14:51 mark when Wide Receiver D’Avery Robinson scored on a 25-yard pass from Quarterback Garrison Davis and with a successful Point After Attempt (PAT) by Glymph the score was now 12-10, Braves. Not to be outdone ASU scored again at the 4:47 mark on a 1-yard run by Running Back Ernest Temple making the score 18-10, Braves. The Golden Lions ended the second quarter with a score at the 1:54 mark when Robinson caught a 39-yard pass from Davis and with a successful extra point by Glymph the score was now 18-17, Braves.
The only score in the third quarter was by UAPB when at the 10:25 mark Wide Receiver Jordan Jackson caught a 21-yard pass from Garrison and with an extra point by Glymph the Golden Lions took the lead going into the fourth quarter 18-24.
The fourth quarter was an explosive barrage of offense from both teams. At the 14:44 mark Golden Lion Defensive Back Michael Henderson had a 100-yard interception and with an extra point by Glymph the score was 18-31, Golden Lions. Alcorn, realizing that they needed an offensive surge, got just that at the 12:14 mark when Running Back Fredrick Robertson scored on a 4-yard run making the score 24-31, Golden Lions. Arkansas Pine Bluff continued its offensive onslaught at the 9:40 mark when Running Back Za’Marion Webber scored on a 54-yard run and with Glymph’s extra point the score was now 24-38, Golden Lions. Alcorn continued to score with two touchdowns at the 9:21 and 3:50 mark tying the game up at 38 to force overtime.
In the first overtime UAPB scored first when Wide Receiver Paul Summers scored on a 7-yard pass from Garrison and with Glymph’s extra point the score was 38-45, Golden Lions. The Braves responded when Wide Receiver Armon Wright caught a 3-yard pass from Tolbert and with Kicker Carson Wilt’s extra point the score was tied at 45 sending the game into a second overtime.
The Braves scored first in the second overtime and applied defensive intensity to the Golden Lions to secure the 53-51 win in the 37th Annual Southern Classic.
Offensive statistical leaders were Jaylon Tolbert with 32 completions for 485 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Ernest Temple had 144 yards with 2 touchdowns and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. Tyree Kelly had 6 catches for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns while defensively Linebacker Timothy Jasper had 13 solo tackles.
Alcorn’s next game will be Saturday, September 19th at 6:00 pm in Florence, Alabama against the United Athletic Conference’s (UAC) University of North Alabama Lions (1-2, 0-0) at Bank Independent Stadium.
(Photo Credit: Cedric Tillman)
