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BOXTOROW National Game of the Week
No. 7/NR Alcorn State (5-5) vs. No. 1/1Grambling State (9-1)
When Alcorn State and Grambling State meet in the SWAC championship game on Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston, it will me the second year in a row the two teams will meet for the SWAC title.
Not only did Alcorn win last year’s game 49-21, the Braves have won the last two championships (they defeated then reigning champion Southern 38-24 in 2014).
The Braves (5-5) are decided underdogs this year, just making it to the title game. They also fell at Grambling 43-18 on September 24.
But the Braves have a couple of advantages on the Tigers. They are the defending champions. They have also had a couple of weeks rest coming into this game, while Grambling played an emotional Bayou Classic game against Southern last Saturday, winning 52-30.
With that time off, it has given Braves star quarterback Lenorris Footman extra time to heal. Footman has been plagued by injuries all year and has been nowhere near the player he was last year, winning the BOXTOROW Impact Player award. He hasn’t played since the Prairie View A&M loss on November 5. He is completing 57 percent of his passes for 875 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions and has rushed for 367 yards and six touchdowns.
If Footman can’t go, Noah Johnson has been more than capable this year. Johnson is completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,116 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions and is also the team’s second leading rusher having rushed for 440 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Footman has more of the experience having played in last year’s SWAC championship game. Head coach Fred McNair is not revealing who will start and will make it a game-time decision. Both could play.
With both quarterbacks and a strong running game led by De’Lance Turner, the Braves will have to face a solid Grambling defense that leads the SWAC in scoring defense (16.4) and total defense (323.6). The Tigers are very good against the run giving up just 121 yards per game and only seven rushing touchdowns. Safety Guy Stallworth leads the defense with 58 tackles, has 5.5 tackles for loss and has broken up six passes. Linebacker Arkez Cooper leads the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and upfront, linemen Lorin Winston and Donovan McCray have combined for 22.5 tackles for loss. McCray was named the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Grambling’s offense is high-powered and is one of the tops in FCS. The Tigers are ranked fourth in total offense (505.1) and scoring (44.0)
It begins with the play of quarterback DeVante Kincade, the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Year. This is his first season with the Tigers after transferring from Mississippi. He leads the SWAC in passing yards per game (260.8) and is ranked third in FCS in pass efficiency (171.6). His 28-3 touchdown to interceptions ratio is the best in FCS. He is also a threat to run with the football having rushed for 271 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receiver Chad Williams is Kincade’s favorite target. Williams is fifth in FCS in receptions (80) and fourth in receiving yards (1,191) and has caught 10 touchdown passes. Verian Hunter and Dominique Leak are also having outstanding seasons and have combined for 67 receptions for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The Tigers also have an outstanding running game. Martez Carter was named first team All-SWAC and has 646 yards rushing, is averaging 7.2 yards per carry and has scored eight touchdowns. Carter is also a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield having caught 21 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Jestin Kelly is the team’s leading rusher with 741 yards, 5.5 yards per carry and eight touchdowns.
There is no question that the Braves will have their hands full with the GSU offense. The numbers don’t bear it out, but the Braves defense has played better of late. The secondary which is young has intercepted five passes in the last three games and is playing with confidence. All-SWAC linebacker Darien Anderson is the leader of the defense with 80 tackles (47 solo). He also has 12 sacks and will look to put pressure on Kincade. The Tigers have surrendered 24 sacks this season.
There is a decided advantage to the Tigers, but the extra rest and experience for the two-time defending champion Braves will make the game close.
The winner of this game will face MEAC champion North Carolina Central in the Celebration Bowl on December 17 in Atlanta.
Grambling wins if… Kincade continues to play the way that he’s been playing. The Tigers must also protect the football, having fumbled 14 times which is tied for the SWAC lead.
Alcorn wins if… the Braves are going to have to play a near perfect game. Footman could be the key as he has experience and can present a challenge to the Tigers’ defense as a runner and passer. The Braves must put pressure on Kincade and not allow him to sit back and scan the field.