Braves' season comes to an end in heartbreaking defeat
SWAC.org
2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl:
North Carolina A&T 24, Alcorn State 22
ATLANTA – A dominant second-half effort was not enough for the Alcorn State University football team, as it fell shy of its sixth Black College National Championship in a 24-22 loss to North Carolina A&T State University during the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.
North Carolina A&T (10-2) wasted no time getting on the board, taking the game’s opening possession and marched 65 yards in five plays to tack on a touchdown via a 17-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Raynard to Zachary Leslie. After the sides traded punts, Alcorn (9-4) methodically traveled 84 yards in a 14-play, 7:12 drive capped by a Corey McCullough 29-yard field goal to put its first points on the board.
The contest evolved into a defensive struggle through much of the second quarter, as the Braves’ defense completely bottled up the Aggies rushing attack. However, Noah Johnson and the Alcorn offense were slow to capitalize. On their second possession of the quarter, Johnson was picked off by North Carolina A&T’s Timadre Abram, who returned it 21 yards down to the Alcorn 27-yard line.
The Braves’ defense stiffened on the ensuing drive, forcing a pair of Raynard incompletions as the Aggies settled for a 36-yard field goal by Noel Ruiz that made the game 10-3 with 8:33 left in the half. Defense continued to rule until North Carolina A&T’s final possession of the half, where Raynard managed to find some room in the Alcorn secondary.
Raynard hit Leslie for a 22-yard gain and connected with receiver Elijah Bell on three occasions during the drive, the final pitch-and-catch a 27-yard scoring strike to cap a six-play, 70-yard drive that 2:30 off the clock. After the point after, the Aggies held a 17-3 lead with 53 ticks left in the half.
Despite the deficit, Alcorn didn’t blink as Johnson took the Braves down the field with his legs and arm, sandwiching a 13-yard scamper between a pair of 14-yard receptions by Chris Blair. Johnson then hooked up with Juan Anthony for a 26-yard completion, allowing McCullough to tack on another field goal – this one from 25 yards out – as the half came to a close.
After punting on its opening drive of the third quarter, Alcorn’s defense stepped up to halt an Aggie drive as Brady Smith picked off a Raynard pass at the Braves’ 31-yard line.
Though the Braves stalled on the ensuing possession, the defense again rose to the occasion. A pair of Alcorn penalties put North Carolina A&T near midfield, and the Aggies appeared poised to strike after Raynard found Leslie for a 44-yard completion that brought the MEAC champions to Alcorn’s 9-yard line. The Braves allowed nothing further, as Raynard threw a pair of incompletions and on fourth down, Alcorn’s Brelion Hollis snuffed out a Ernest Bush pass to Leroy Hill, stopping the latter for a loss of six on fourth and goal.
From that point, the Braves’ rushing attack dominated the Aggies. DeShawn Waller erupted for a 48-yard gain to the Aggies’ 30, and two plays later, Johnson sprinted to the endzone for a 30-yard touchdown run, bringing Alcorn within one possession with just under four and a half to play in the third.
After an Aggies three-and-out, Waller against gashed the North Carolina A&T defense, as a 54-yard scamper led to a 29-yard field goal for McCullough, making the game 17-16. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Malik Wilson ran it back 79 yards for the score, putting North Carolina A&T up 24-16 heading into the fourth.
The Braves continued to lean on the arm and legs of Johnson as the final quarter began, and after a Waller six-yard run – preceded by a Johnson 12-yard scramble – Johnson exploded for a 59-yard slice to paydirt, capping a nine-play, 92-yard drive and making the game 24-22 with 11:51 left.
However, that would be all for the Braves. After the sides again traded punts, Alcorn had the Aggies facing a third and long with two minutes left, but Raynard hit Isaiah Hicklin for a 14-yard gain, and from there time ran out on the Braves’ title hopes.
Johnson was 11-of-27 for 128 yards and rushed for 120 yards on 14 attempts. Waller carried the ball 19 times for 167 yards as Alcorn outrushed North Carolina A&T 328-94. Defensively, Hollis paced the Braves with 10 stops and 2.5 tackles for loss.
Raynard went 18-of-30 for 292 yards, improving to 35-2 as a starter for the Aggies. Leslie caught six passes for 119 yards.
Alcorn outgained North Carolina A&T 451-324, and edged the Aggies in total first downs, 20-17. However, Alcorn was flagged eight times for 93 yards, compared to the Aggies’ six penalties for 35 yards.
This concludes a strong campaign for the Braves, who won its 16
th conference title in program history. The team had 12 All-SWAC selections – 10 first-teamers – with Johnson and Waller among the eight first-team honorees set to return to the Reservation.