Payne propels Braves to win

Published 11:42 pm Saturday, October 6, 2012

LORMAN — Alcorn State came up big when it counted. Backup quarterback Jordan Payne scored on a keeper from a yard out with 15 seconds left to give the Braves a thrilling 20-17 win over Southern University Saturday at Jack Spinks/Mario Casem Stadium.

First-year Alcorn State coach and Vicksburg native Jay Hopson remained unflappable as jubilation erupted around him as the Braves (2-4) won for the first time at home in three games and evened their Southwestern Athletic Conference record at 2-2.

‘You know, I try not to change expression, win or lose, but I do know our kids will enjoy this one tonight,” Hopson said. “Things are never easy for us. We played as well as we’ve had all season for 21⁄2 quarters. Just good, execution football. Then we had a breakdown on coverage and on special teams.”

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Alcorn State let a 14-0 lead in the third quarter slip away as Southern (2-3, 1-2) scored 17 straight. The Jaguars got a 75-yard touchdown pass from Dray Johnson to Michael Berry, a 50-yard punt return TD from Virgil Williams and a 33-yard field goal by Michael Pittman to go up 17-14 with 10:47 left.

Following a trade of punts the Braves took over at their own 29 with 6:42 left. Hopson felt it was a do-or-die drive. That’s why he called for a fake punt from his own 35 on fourth-and-4.

“I thought about doing it on the previous series, but there was a lot of time left,” Hopson said. “Alondrea (Young) made a good play.”

Young took a direct snap and gained 11 yards to the 46.

The Braves grounded out another first down and Joe Price picked up 16 yards on a lateral pass from John Gibbs to reach the 28. Two plays later, on third down from the Southern 22, Gibbs kept it for an 11-yard gain to the Jaguar 11. With 38 seconds left, the Braves had another third down from the seven.

This time it was Arnold Walker who dug low and gained six yards to the 1. After the measurement gave Alcorn a first down, Payne, who is used on short yardage, scored.

“I just told my line, dig me a hole,” Payne said.

Southern had one last play from its own 40, but a short pass was stopped as the clock ran out.

Alcorn State had its best offensive game of the season with 317 yards. Gibbs threw for 172 yards and 84 of it came on a 95-yard drive midway in the third quarter. Gibbs got the score on a 38-yard swing pass to Joe Price for a 14-0 lead with 4:16 left in the quarter.

Alcorn State put together its best first half of the season and took a 7-0 lead into the locker room.