The Alcorn State University (ASU) Braves (3-3, 2-1) traveled to Grambling, Louisiana on Saturday, October 5th to Eddie Robertson Stadium to take on the Grambling State University (GSU) Tigers (3-2, 1-1) in a Western Conference showdown that did not disappoint.
The Braves put the G-Men on notice in the first quarter by scoring first at the 7:16 mark when Running Back Fredrick Robertson scored on a 4-yard run and with Kicker Kenyon Bowyer’s extra point the score was 7-0, Braves. GSU answered at the 6:00 mark with their own score when Wide Receiver Tyson George caught a 54-yard pass from Quarterback Jacobe Robinson and with Kicker Theodore Caballero’s successful PAT the score was now tied at 7. With 1:54 remaining in the fourth GSU’s Running Back D’Shaun Ford scored on a 2-yard run and with Caballero’s extra point the score was now 7-14, Tigers.
The second quarter brought a lot of back and forth with Grambling scoring at the 9:52 mark when George caught an 8-yard pass from Robinson and with Caballero’s extra point the score was 7-21, Tigers. Alcorn, sensing the urgency, scored at the 9:24 mark when Wide Receiver Jamarr Ebron caught a 76-yard pass from Tolbert and with Bowyer’s extra point the score was now 14-21, Tigers. The G-Men hopped right back on the scoreboard at the 4:24 mark when Quarterback Ashton Frye scored on a 12-yard run and with Caballero’s PAT the score was 14-28, Tigers. With 1:54 remaining in the quarter, Alcorn Wide Receiver Malachi Augustus caught a 3-yard pass from Tolbert and with Bowyer’s successful kick the score at half was 21-28, Tigers.
Grambling opened up the third quarter with a score at the 14:47 mark when Defensive Back Katrevrick Banks scored on a 98-yard kickoff return and with Caballero’s extra point the score was now 21-35, Tigers. Alcorn then went on a tear scoring at the 11:21, 7:31 and 4:06 marks making the score 38-35, Braves.
ASU began the fourth quarter with a score at the 14:04 mark when Running Back Ernest Temple scored on a 4-yard scamper to the endzone and with Bowyer’s successful PAT the score was 45-35, Braves. The G-Men scored at the 13:10 mark when Frye scored on a 5-yard run and with Caballer’s extra point the score was 45-42, Braves. Alcorn scored again at the 10:52 mark when Ebron caught a 40-yard pass from Tolbert and with Bowyer’s extra point the score was 52-42, Braves. Alcorn increased its lead at the 10:18 mark when Robertson scored on a 2-yard run and with Bowyer’s extra point the score was now 59-42. Grambling went on to score 3 more times at the 6:11, 3:20, and :19 marks to secure the game with a final score of 59-63, Tigers.
Statistical offensive leaders were Tolbert with 18 completions for 411 yards and 5 touchdowns, Robertson with 105 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, Wide Receiver Damien Jones had 4 receptions for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns while defensively, Lineback Dillon Crowell led all tackles with 11. He had 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for a loss.
The Braves head back home to ‘The Reservation’ for a little home cooking as they celebrate their Homecoming on Saturday, October 10th at 2:00 pm as they look to regroup to take on the Sooner Athletic Conference’s (SAC) Arkansas Baptist College Buffaloes (2-4, 2-2) at Spinks-Casem Stadium. The game will be televised on SWAC TV and can be heard on WPRL 91.7 FM.
(Photo Credit: alcornsports.com)
