Oct. 21, 2007
Final Stats
It was ugly, but it was a win and we're 6-2, and that
all that matters. SU fullback, Alvin Fossilman's one-yard plunge with 5:13 remaining,
gave Southern a 14-10 victory over Alcorn State Saturday afternoon on Senior
Day on the bluff.
Southern (6-2, 4-2 SWAC) broke a two-game losing skid and secured
its first winning season in two years -- since claiming the Western Division
title in 2004.
Neither team managed to score in the first quarter. Southern
scored its first touchdown on Warren Mathews' 24-yard pass to Darren Coates
early in the second quarter. Matthews completed a career-high 14 of 27 passes
for 117 yards.
Down 7-0 at halftime, Alcorn State got back in the game with
the only score in the third quarter, on a 26-yard pass from Tony Hobson to Emman
Arceneaux pulling the Braves even at 7-7.
ASU's Alexander Oelfke's 33-yard field goal put the Braves
ahead, 10-7 with 13:11 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Matthews settled down and took SU on a 13-play, 59-yard
drive, capped off with Fossilman's touchdown to put the Jaguars ahead.
But it took two big stops and one goal line stand by the "Dog
Day D", to secure the win.
First, Alcorn converted a third-and-9 with a 14-yard completion
to running back Vernardus Cooper, movin the ball to the SU 22 with 3:13 left.
Then nickel back Toyin Akinwale, who injured his right ankle
in the first half but came back after halftime, broke up a touchdown pass to
Arceneaux. The ball was already in Arceneaux's hands when a massive hit
knocked the wind out of Arceneaux and the ball from his hands with 2:30 left.
Then on a fourth-and-7 from the 18, a fluttering Chris Walker
pass to the end zone drew pass interference from cornerback Michael Williams,
giving Alcorn new life, with a first-and-goal at the SU 2 with 1:44 remaining.
But cornerback Michael Williams was flagged for pass interference, even though
the ball was tipped. That gave ASU first and goal.
On first down, Cooper got stopped for a 1-yard loss by linebacker
Donald Steele. On second down, defensive ends Vince Lands and Don Holloway crashed
in to snare Cooper for a 3-yard loss. On third down, Walker's pass to
Arceneaux on the left side sailed wide.
That left 23.7 seconds to play and a fourth-and-goal at the
SU six yard line. Drop linebacker Gary Chatman slid into coverage, and helped
Jarmaul George squeeze Arceneaux as he ran a slant route. George made good,
closing from behind on the Alcorn State receiver Emmanuel Arceneux in the end
zone to poke away and secure a thrilling last second goalline stand.
Backup quarterback, CJ Byrd, also saw his first action of the
2007 season, going three for three passing for 29 yards, and rushing five times
for two yards.
Coates led all rushers with 57 yards on 16 carries and picked
up another 49 yards on six catches. Del Roberts also had six catches for 53
yards, and two rushes for 19 yards.
Vernardus Cooper led Alcorn State rushers and receivers, with
40 yards on 16 carries and four receptions for another 40 yards. Hobson was
10-for-19 for 107 yards; he rushed four times for a net gain of two yards.
Defensively for the Jags, defensive end Vince Lands finished
with a game-high 11 tackles (8 solo, 3 assists), including 4.5 tackles for loss,
one sack, two QB hurries, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery. Glenn
Bell had 10 tackles (7 solo, 3 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Brian Lewis also had 10 tackles (3 solo, 7 assists).
Southern will have its first break of the season this week,
as the Jags get a much need off week. They will return to action November 3rd,
in Houston, Texas, as they face off with Tigers of Texas Southern University
at 12 noon in Reliant Stadium.
