BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alex McGough threw for 328 yards and had a go-ahead touchdown run with 1:12 remaining to help Florida International beat Alcorn State 17-10 on Friday night for coach Butch Davis’ first victory at the school.

Admission was free for the crowd of 5,017 at the game relocated from Miami to the historic Legion Field due to Hurricane Irma.

Alcorn State tied it at 10 with 3:54 left in the fourth quarter on Corey McCullough’s 49-yard field goal. But FIU went on a seven-play, 80-yard drive to take the lead on McGough’s 1-yard sneak. The Braves got to FIU’s 45, but Lenorris Footman’s heave at the final whistle went out of bounds.

Alex Gardner rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown for FIU (1-1). He opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 3-yard run.

FIU scored the only points of the third quarter, on a short field goal with 16 seconds left, to take a 10-7 lead.
Footman went 22-of-34 for 191 yards and a TD for Alcorn State (1-1). He also ran for a team-high 56 yards.

Former Vicksburg High star Tavares Johnson caught a 4-yard TD pass in the corner of the end zone to tie it at 7 in the second quarter for Alcorn. Johnson finished with six receptions for 44 yards.

“I just told defensive coach (Cedric) Thomas how proud I was and what a great job he did putting those guys in position to make plays. Anytime you hold an FBS team to two touchdowns you are doing well. They had a couple of chances when they got inside the red zone but we came up with some stops and I just can’t say enough about those guys,” Alcorn coach Fred McNair said.