Alcorn State’s starting quarterback might miss another game. The last outing was marked with turnovers, mistakes, a 26-point halftime deficit and a desperate comeback bid that came up just short.

Panic time for the Braves?

Hardly.

Alcorn (5-3, 4-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) will go on the road Saturday to play Texas Southern (3-5, 2-5) with its lead in the East Division chopped down to a single game and the margin for error dwindling. Coach Jay Hopson said that just means it’s just time for the Braves to roll up their sleeves.

“We just go to work. There’s no magic formula,” Hopson said. “You’ve got to look at everything from the reality of what it is. You can’t give up 21 points on turnovers. You can’t have two blocked punts and a fumble that gives them the ball at the 10-yard line. That’s things you can’t do. But to bring yourself back and give yourself a chance, that is something to build on.”

Hopson was talking about last week’s 40-34 loss to Prairie View A&M, its second loss of the season at Jack Spinks Stadium. Prairie View returned two blocked punts for touchdowns in the first quarter and ripped off three more scores in the second to take a 40-14 lead into halftime.

Hopson, who preaches a “one game at a time” approach, admitted that the sting of that defeat has lingered longer than most because of the way the Braves dug their own hole.

“You always focus on one at a time, but after a loss you’re always ready to get back on the field,” he said.

Not everyone might be ready, though, at least from a physical standpoint. Starting quarterback John Gibbs Jr., the reigning SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, missed the Prairie View game with an ankle sprain. Gibbs has improved, Hopson said, but it’ll still be a “Friday or Saturday” decision whether he’ll play against Texas Southern.

“He’s not 100 percent yet, but he’s getting there,” Hopson said.

Fortunately, the Braves haven’t seemed to need Gibbs. Backup Lenorris Footman, a redshirt sophomore, has thrown four touchdown passes and no interceptions in two games subbing for Gibbs.

Footman has proven to be just as good in the running game as well. He’s rushed for 494 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries in the last two games. In the first one, against Southern University, he set a SWAC record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 274.

“We’re blessed to have two good quarterbacks,” Hopson said. “Lenorris is a good football player. He played last year, too, so he’s played a lot of snaps now. He’s got a lot of confidence.”

As much as it’s helping Alcorn’s push toward a second consecutive SWAC title, Hopson said, the meaningful playing time Footman is getting now will help as it hopefully chases a third in 2016. Gibbs, a senior, is in his final season and Footman is the heir apparent at quarterback.

“It’ll be huge for him next year,” Hopson said. “He’s got three, if not more, starts under his belt, so you’re bringing back a veteran quarterback next year.”

Alcorn State at Texas Southern

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Radio: 91.3 FM