Alcorn State wins SWAC Football Championship
SWAC.org
Alcorn State 49, Grambling State 21
Box Score
HOUSTON, Texas – A crowd of 40,352 witnessed a record-setting day by Alcorn State as the Braves prevailed 49-21 over Grambling State to claim the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Football Championship, becoming the first repeat champion since the 2000-2002 Grambling State Tigers. The Braves rewrote the record books offensively, setting new SWAC Championship Game all-time highs in total yards of offense (613), rushing yards (411) and points scored (49).
After both teams traded punts to open the game, the defending champions struck first as a 84-yard sprint to paydirt by SWAC Championship Game Offensive MVP Darryan Ragsdale opened the scoring. With the run – his third attempt of the game – Ragsdale broke the SWAC Championship Game record for most rushing yards as well as the longest rush in the game’s history. He ended the day with 191 yards on the ground.
The ensuing Tigers’ drive ended in two plays, thanks to a 24-yard pick-six by Alcorn State cornerback and SWAC Championship Game Defensive MVP Warren Gatewood that gifted the Braves a two-score lead in the first quarter. Grambling State responded on its next turn, when an Alcorn State roughing the passer penalty helped to sustain a drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown run by Johnathan Williams on the first snap of the second quarter.
The Braves responded with a six-play, 72-yard drive that Lenorris Footman capped with an 11-yard scoring toss to SWAC Newcomer of the Year Marquis Warford, and the Braves regained their double-digit advantage. Grambling State returned serve as Williams dropped in a 24-yard scoring toss to Verlan Hunter to punctuate an eight-play, 96-yard march with 9:14 left in the second quarter.
Alcorn State used some trickery to jumpstart its next scoring drive, as a 33-yard rush by Warford on a jet sweep reverse put the Braves in GSU territory. The Footman-to-Warford connection took care of the rest with a 28-yard score with 2:32 left in the half to put the Braves ahead 28-14.
The teams traded turnovers in the third quarter, when a fumble by Grambling’s Martez Carter was scooped up by Alcorn State’s Eric Foster, who returned it to the GSU 16-yard line. However, a holding penalty wiped out a Ragsdale score and on the next play, Grambling State’s Troy Roach forced a fumble that was recovered by Derwyn Butler to stave off a potential score.
The Tigers’ following drive ended when Gatewood picked off his second pass of the evening, but the Braves couldn’t take advantage of it. On the ensuing punt, a muffed catch was pounced on by Alcorn State, setting the Braves up at GSU’s 28 yard line. Seven plays later, the Braves cashed in thanks to a 9-yard touchdown scamper by Footman that put them ahead 35-14 with 2:31 left in the quarter.
Alcorn State added to its lead with a five-yard pitch and catch from Footman to Corbin Johnson.
Grambling State responded with a touchdown with 7:53 left in the game with a 1–yard plunge by Jestin Kelly, and Alcorn State put up the final score of the night with 4:03 remaining on a 37-yard touchdown run by Warford, who scored three times in the game and accounted for 200 all-purpose yards, third-most in SWAC Championship Game history.
Gatewood picked off three passes, which tied the SWAC Championship Game record for most interceptions. Footman threw for 202 yards on 15-of-24 passing and three scores. He also rushed for 101 yards and another score.
Williams was held in check to the tune of 225 yards on 19-of-38 passing. He also rushed for 34 yards to lead the Tigers. Chester Rogers caught seven passes for 61 yards, and Guy Stallworth made 15 tackles, one shy of the SWAC Championship Game record.
The attendance figure was the third-most in SWAC Championship Game history, as well as the most in the game’s history since it moved to NRG Stadium and the most since 2007.
Alcorn State post-game press conference
Grambling State post game press conference