Sept. 23, 2006

Final Stats

Lorman, Miss - In a game as strange as the weather, the much-maligned Alabama State University offense, led by Jay Peck's 196 yards, carried the Hornets to a 33-28 shootout win over the Alcorn State Braves. A burst of thunderstorms threatened the beginning of the game, and the stands were empty just a few minutes before kickoff. However, the sun came out and so did thousands of Alcorn fans in purple and gold to cheer a team seeking its first victory. And early on, the Braves didn't disappoint.

After going three and out, an Alcorn punt left the Hornets on their own 46. On ASU's first play of the game, the center's snap flew over quarterback Alex Engram's head. Alcorn's Lee Robinson scooped the ball up and ran 22 yards into the end zone, taking the Braves to a quick 7-0 lead.

The teams exchanged punts before the Hornet defense backed Alcorn up to their own 6-yard line. After Michael Coe's fair catch, Bama State was in business on the Braves' 35. After several short gains, Engram hit Jarod Alford for 15 yards to the Alcorn 6-yard line. Jay Peck barreled in off the right side and Alabama State tied the game 7-7.

Both teams stalemated and traded punts. With less than two minutes remaining, Peck broke across through the Braves' defense and raced 50 yards for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the Hornets missed the extra point and their lead was just 13-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Hornets' Jerrod Kerrison blasted the ball out of the hand of Alcorn star Charlie Spiller. Bama State's Chris Dupuy was "Johnny on the spot" and grabbed the fumble, returning it 10 yards for a touchdown. The Braves refused to go away and answered with an 11-play, 71-yard drive helped along by two Bama State penalties. The biggest play was Venard Cook's 27-yard romp to the Hornets' 9-yard line. Cook would later score from four yards out, bringing the Braves within one touchdown. The score was 20-14 at the half.

"It was really a dogfight," said Hornets' head coach Charles Coe. "We didn't show up ready to play. We were lucky they really didn't take advantage. When Alcorn settled in and started to run the ball, they really caused us some problems."

The Hornets started the second half in perfect fashion, as Desmond Foster took the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

Once more, Alcorn answered. Venard Cook ripped off a 34-yard run, and Michael Shepard ran the final 10 yards to make the score 26-21. Engram, who spent the first drive of the second half in the locker room receiving treatment for dizziness, shook off the cobwebs and drove the Hornets the length of the field for a touchdown. His 23-yard strike to Brandon Horace in the corner of the end zone gave the Hornets a 33-21 lead and a bit of breathing room. After forcing an Alcorn punt, Bama State seemed poised to increase the lead, but Johnson's 44-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Alcorn State's Deshaun Lewis picked up the loose ball at the Alcorn 5-yard line and ran all the way to the Hornet 24-yard line before he was tackled. Alcorn scored when Tony Hobson lobbed a touchdown pass to Mareese Rose. The score stood 33-28.

Alabama State had one more chance to score, but after the Hornets marched 71 yards, Johnson missed a 23-yard field goal. Alcorn's final drive didn't amount to much, and Leland Jones put the exclamation point on the Hornets' victory when he intercepted Hobson's pass with one minute and 16 seconds remaining.

"I'm glad we won, but I'm really concerned with the extra points and field goals," Coe said. "One of Anthony's kicks was a knuckleball; the other had such a low trajectory that it got blocked." "Peck had a heck of a game," Coe said. "This is a kid that was a walk-on. Man, I'm glad we gave him a scholarship!" Peck, who started the season as the second-string running back, has back-to-back 100-yard plus efforts and is now among the SWAC's leading rushers. "It feels great," Peck said. "The offensive line was great. They were great up front; the easy part was me just reading their blocks and trying to get a few yards."

Alabama State is now 2-1 in the SWAC, and 2-2 overall. Alcorn State falls to 0-2 in the SWAC and 0-3 overall. Next week, the Hornets will travel to Baton Rogue to take on the Southern Jaguars. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.