Alcorn defeated McNeese 17-3 on Saturday

LORMAN, Mississippi – Alcorn State scored on its first two drives then forced three McNeese turnovers to help it secure a 17-3 win over the Cowboys on Saturday night.

The loss dropped the Cowboys to 0-3 on the season while Alcorn improved to 1-2 in its first home game of the year.

Alcorn outgained McNeese 225-80 in the first half that led to a couple of rushing touchdowns by the Braves to put them up 14-0. Those two drives rolled up 161 yards for the Braves but the McNeese defense settled in and forced the Braves to punt their final two drives of the half. Those two drives resulted in just 51 yards.

Cowboys’ kicker Garrison Smith split the uprights with a 51-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half and Alcorn led 14-3. It matched the fourth-longest field goal in school history.

McNeese had its chances in the second half, especially with the defense giving it chances. But three turnovers by the offense in the quarter kept the Cowboys from putting together any kind of rally and momentum change.

Alcorn recorded 348 total offensive yards to McNeese’s 199. Cowboy quarterback Nate Glantzcompleted 13 of 24 passes for 109 yards and threw two interceptions. He was also sacked three times.

D’Angelo Durham ran for 41 of the team’s 90 rushing yards while Cam Thomas added 19.

ASU quarterback Aaron Allen led the way for the Braves by completing 13 of 18 passes for 98 yards. Jarveon Howard ran for 98 yards and a touchdown to pace the running attack.

McNeese linebacker Micah Davey finished the night with 15 tackles, 12 of those solos.

The Cowboys will cap their three-game road trip next Saturday when they visit Eastern Illinois, a 14-13 winner over Illinois State on Saturday.

Quarter-by-Quarter Notes
1^st Quarter:
• Alcorn took the opening drive and pushed the ball 79 yards in five plays to take a quick 7-0 lead.
• The Cowboys went 3-and-out on their first possession, giving the ball back to Alcorn following a 45-yard punt by Callum Eddings.
• Alcorn ended the quarter driving to the McNeese 10 and ending the frame possessing 12:24 of the 15 minutes.

2^nd Quarter:
• Alcorn took a 14-0 lead five seconds into the quarter on a 10-yard touchdown run by Jarveon Howard.
• The drive lasted 14-plays and 82-yards and took a total of 6:55 off the clock.
• McNeese moved the ball into Alcorn territory and nearly scored on a 46-yard pass by Nate Glantz to Jihad Marks, but Marks couldn’t hold onto the ball and the Cowboys were forced to punt for the second time of the game.
• The Cowboys defense held the Braves to punts in their final two possessions.
• McNeese PK Garrison Smith kicked a 51-yard field goal as time expired to put the Cowboys on the board, 14-3… it was the 4^th-longest field goal in school history and would’ve been good from 60-plus yards.

3^rd Quarter:
• The Cowboys turned the ball over three times in the quarter, two pass interceptions thrown by Glantz and a fumble by Glantz on a sack.
• McNeese’s defense held tight on two fourth-down attempts by Alcorn on different possession, the second when the Braves faced a 3^rd-and-goal at the McNeese 1. A stop for no-gain then again for no-gain on 4^th down. Both stops were by Micah Davey.

4^th Quarter:
• Alcorn was unsuccessful on a 4^th-and-15 at the McNeese 27 and the Cowboys regained control of the ball with another turnover on downs.
• On the ensuing possession, McNeese drove the ball to the ASU 16 and on the next play, Cam Thomas rushed to the 1-yard line. However, a holding call against the Cowboys backed the ball up to the ASU 26. Two plays later Garrison Smithmissed on a 43-yard field goal attempt after a bad snap affected the outcome.
• Alcorn followed with a 42-yard field goal to go up 17-3 with 2:56 to play in the game.

Story from McNeese State Athletics