Alcorn State Erupts for 585 Yards in Dominant Win Over Mississippi Valley State
When Alcorn State stepped onto the field at Rice-Totten Stadium, the opening minutes offered little hint of the offensive explosion that would follow. Playing in ITTA BENA, Miss., Mississippi Valley State opened the scoring by marching 79 yards on their initial drive, capped when quarterback Josh Brown threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen King. That early strike handed the Delta Devils a 7-0 lead with 10:55 remaining in the first quarter, setting an aggressive tone for the hosts.
What followed was a relentless 45-point unanswered scoring surge that carried the Braves to a commanding 52-17 victory. Alcorn State (5-4 overall, 3-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play) quickly turned a sluggish start into a masterclass in offensive efficiency, racking up a season-high 585 total yards while averaging an impressive 9.1 yards per play.
Building the Momentum
The Braves answered Mississippi Valley’s opening salvo immediately. Following a 60-yard march over seven plays in which quarterback Jaylon Tolbert completed six passes, he capped the drive himself with a one-yard touchdown run to level the score at 7-7. After the Alcorn defense forced a quick three-and-out, the visitors capitalized on the short field. Joshua Tate contributed a 13-yard run before Tolbert found Armon Wright for a 22-yard touchdown.
Though Mississippi Valley answered with a 40-yard field goal from Luka Sari just before the quarter ended to trim the deficit to 14-10, the Delta Devils would not score again until the final frame. Alcorn erupted for 21 unanswered points in the second quarter alone, carrying a 35-10 advantage into halftime. The onslaught continued after the break with 17 more points in the third quarter.
Alcorn Dominates Offense Behind Tolbert and Robertson
Alcorn finished the afternoon with 323 passing yards and 262 rushing yards, converting seven of ten third-down attempts and committing zero turnovers. Tolbert delivered a stellar afternoon under center, completing 23 of 29 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, alongside his rushing score.
| Player | Position | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|
| Jaylon Tolbert | 23/29 passing, 320 yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD | |
| Fredrick Robertson | 168 yards from scrimmage, 3 total TDs | |
| Ernest Temple | 4 carries, 79 yards, 1 TD |
Fredrick Robertson provided some of the game’s most explosive moments. On nine carries, he picked up 81 yards and two scores, while also contributing two catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, which included a standout 78-yard reception during the second quarter. Armon Wright anchored the receiving corps with eight catches for 126 yards, while Ernest Temple added an efficient 79 yards on just four carries, capped by a 54-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.
Defensively, the Braves held Mississippi Valley State to 295 total yards, including just 122 yards on the ground. Alcorn recorded five tackles for loss and two sacks, courtesy of Jakel Houston-Irving and Kenneth Andrews. Timothy Jasper led the unit with seven tackles, while Dillon Crowell added six tackles and a team-high two tackles for loss.
Looking Ahead to Week 10
The win marks Alcorn State’s 18th win in a row over Mississippi Valley State (3-6, 2-3). The Delta Devils finally broke the lengthy scoring drought with a six-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but the game was long out of reach.
Both teams return to conference action next Saturday, November 7, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. in both matchups. Alcorn State returns home to host Florida A&M for Military/Service Workers Day at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium. Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley State hits the road to face Jackson State.
