LORMAN — When he took over as Alcorn State’s head coach in late May, Jay Hopson told every media outlet that the Braves would win when they deserved to. Saturday evening, before the largest crowd of the season to date at 15,000, the Braves did just that.

Several clutch plays in a 69-yard, game-winning drive, including an 11-yard gain on a fake punt, keyed the Braves (2-4, 2-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) to a 20-17 win over Southern University. Back-up quarterback Jordan Payne’s 1-yard sneak with 15 seconds left was the game-winning touchdown.

Yet it was the play of freshman starting quarterback John Gibbs that put Alcorn in position to win. Gibbs had his best day of the season, completing 15 of 24 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. He also had an 11-yard scramble to convert a third down from the Jaguars 22 on the final drive.

“We just had a lot of determination on that last drive,” Gibbs said. “Coach Hopson told us we’d win when we deserved to win. We deserved this.”

Hopson was glad to see his team bounce back a week after a frustrating 54-14 loss to Alabama State, in which the Braves gave away six touchdowns through a variety of special teams mistakes and turnovers.

“The kids played with a lot of enthusiasm,” Hopson said. “They kept digging. For 21⁄2 quarters they executed at a good level — the best we’ve had all season. Then we made some mentals late in the third quarter and early fourth and it looked liked the game was getting away from us.”

Southern (2-3, 1-2) rallied from a 14-0 deficit with a 75-yard touchdown pass, a 50-yard punt return and a 33-yard field goal with 10:41 left to take a 17-14 lead. With 6:42 to go, Alcorn got the ball back at its own 31 and from there, drove to victory.

A key play was Hopson’s call for a fake punt from his own 35. Alondrea Young, an upback, took the snap and went 11 yards for the first down to the Alcorn 46.

“I was just glad he called it,” Young said. “I was ready to go.”

Thirteen different Alcorn players ran the ball. The team finished with 145 rushing yards, its best showing of the season. Walker, the lone pre-season All-SWAC offensive player, led the way with 59 yards.

“Our coaches did a great job of putting the ball in the right person’s hands,” Payne said.