Records fell like raindrops Saturday in the SWAC Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston as Alcorn State overwhelmed Grambling State 49-21 to win its second consecutive conference title.
Alcorn (9-3, 8-2 SWAC) set Championship Game records with 613 yards total offense (613 yards), 411 rushing yards and the 49 points. Running back Darryan Ragsdale, the game’s Offensive MVP, got into the record book as well with 188 yards on the ground, and his 84-yard touchdown run for Alcorn’s first score.
With the victory, Alcorn became the first repeat SWAC champion since Grambling won three straight titles from 200-2002 and earned a spot in the inaugural Celebration Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 19. The Braves will play MEAC tri-champion North Carolina A&T. The Aggies got the nod on a tie-breaker after sharing the MEAC title with Bethune-Cookman and North Carolina Central.
“It’s a great feeling,’’ said fourth-year Alcorn coach Jay Hopson. “It was a great win. Everybody asks if it feels better than the first one. Anytime you get to win a championship, it’s a great thing. It’s been a four-year journey. We started at rock bottom. It’s been a truly blessed experienced.’’
Alcorn had a woeful 14-38 record for the five seasons prior to Hopson’s arrival, including three two-win seasons. In short order Hopson made the Braves relevant for the first time since Steve McNair was setting records and grabbing national headlines as their quarterback.
The back-to-back SWAC championships are Alcorn’s first since the Braves won three in a row from 1968-70 when Marino “The Godfather’’ was their coach. Casem addressed the Braves Friday night, and Saturday they produced the type of running game that was his teams’ trademark. In addition to Ragsdale’s record-setting performance, Marquis Warford ran for 120 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Lenorris Footman had 101 rushing yards and a touchdown.
“As a coach you always want balance,’’ Hopson said. “But if you’re running the ball and getting good results, certainly that’s a great thing.’’
Footman also passed for 202 yards and three touchdowns, giving him303 yards of total offense, and very easily have been the game Offensive MVP. Footman began the season backing up John Gibbs Jr., the 2014 Black College Offensive Player of the Year. He became the starter when Gibbs was injured in the Braves’ seventh game.
“We’re so fortunate to have two outstanding quarterbacks,’’ Hopson said. “We knew Lenorris was a great football player. It was one of those deals where he got his opportunity. Sometimes that’s what some guys need. We’re blessed to have two outstanding quarterbacks. Not too many times as a coach you’re in that type of situation. Usually you have a big drop off from one to two or at least a subtle drop off.’’
Grambling came into the Championship Game on a hot streak, having won nine straight games and ranked No. 1 in the Black College polls. Among the G-Men’s victories during their winning streak was a 35-34 overtime victory on Alcorn’s Homecoming after the Braves had an extra point attempt blocked.
Ragsdale’s long-distance score on Alcorn’s second possession sent a message that the Braves were set on making amends for their earlier loss to Grambling. Warren Gatewood returned an interception 24 yards for touchdown later in the first period to increase Alcorn’s lead to 14-0. The Braves led 28-14 at the half. Grambling threatened to make a game of it in the third period when quarterback Johnathan Williams connected with Verlan Hunter on 24-yard touchdown pass at the 9:14 mark, cutting the Braves’ lead to 28-21.
That was Grambling’s last hurrah, however, as Alcorn s scored 21 unanswered points to close out the game.
Alcorn’s record-setting offensive showing overshadowed a strong defensive effort for the Braves. Alcorn held Grambling to 92 rushing yards and forced five turnovers, including three interceptions by Gatewood.
“You can tell they wanted it really badly,’’ Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs said. “They played well and deserved to win. They did a tremendous job of winning the battle up front on both sides. They played well. They’re definitely the champions of this conference. They had a few slip ups during the season, but that’s the nature of this conference.’’
Other Results:
West Georgia 35, Tuskegee 6 – The Golden Tigers’ historic postseason run ended Saturday in the Division II quarterfinals of the Division II playoffs in Carrollton, Ga., as their offense ground to halt and their defense wilted. Tuskegee (10-3), making its third consecutive playoff appearance, advanced beyond the first round for the first time in school history on the strength of its solid defensive play and timely production on offense.
The defense played reasonably well early against West Georgia, setting up the Golden Tigers’ only touchdown with a fumble recovery. However, the offensive unit never got untracked and ended the game with just 146 total yards, including only 27 on the ground.
In addition, the Golden Tigers threw two interceptions and allowed two quarterback sacks. Tuskegee got off to a fast start and grabbed a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Linebacker Osband Thompson recovered a fumble on West Georgia’s first possession of the game. Tuskegee drove 33 yards in eight plays.
Quarterback Kevin Lacey scored on a one-yard keeper play after picking up a crucial first down by running for 12 yards on a third down play. West Georgia responded with a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback Dallas Dickey, a 35-yard strike to Brandon Walton and a 66-yarder to Qa Walker, for a 14-6 lead at the half.
Dickey riddled the Golden Tigers secondary for a career-high 398 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 16 of his 24 pass attempts. The Wolves’ victory marked the second consecutive year that they have bounced Tuskegee from the playoffs. They defeated the Golden Tigers 17-14 in the first round of the 2014 playoffs.
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