Alcorn State Braves Take Down Mississippi Valley State in Commanding 42-21 Victory

Itta Bena, MS September 28, 2024 – The Alcorn State Braves dominated the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in a high-energy clash on Saturday night, pulling off a 42-21 win in front of a crowd of 7,834 at Rice-Totten Stadium. The Braves, now 2-3 on the season and 1-0 in conference play, showcased their offensive firepower and defensive prowess as they capitalized on five Delta Devil turnovers.

Braves Set The Tone Early

The Braves set the tone early with a 47-yard field goal from Noah Kiani. Quarterback Xzavier Vaughn quickly added to the scoreboard, connecting with Damien Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass that gave Alcorn State a 10-0 lead. The Delta Devils responded late in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run from Ty'Jarian Williams, narrowing the gap to 10-7. However, the Braves took control in the second quarter, led by an electrifying 55-yard touchdown run from Jacorian Sewell, who finished the night with an impressive 164 yards on 12 carries. Vaughn added a 5-yard rushing touchdown of his own, extending Alcorn State’s lead to 24-7. Though the Delta Devils managed a second-quarter score, they were outmatched in every phase as Alcorn State took a 24-14 advantage into halftime.

Braves Apply Pressure On Offense & Defense

The Braves didn’t slow down after the break. Their defense forced a safety early in the third quarter, and Kiani’s reliable leg pushed the lead to 29-14 with a 43-yard field goal. Alcorn State capped off a dominant third with a pair of scores in the fourth: a 1-yard plunge from Tavarious Griffin and a 16-yard touchdown catch by Deablo McGee from Tre Lawrence. The Braves offense put on a show with 446 total yards, including 164 rushing yards from Sewell and 60 receiving yards from McGee.

Mississippi Valley State, now 0-5 on the season, struggled to find momentum, with quarterback Jalen Sisk throwing three interceptions. The Delta Devils showed flashes late in the game, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Cameron Nelson in the closing minute, but it was too little, too late. Alcorn State is poised to make a strong statement in conference play with this decisive win. Their balanced attack and resilient defense sent a message to the SWAC: the Braves are here to compete.