A brutal four-game stretch that included three defending conference champions ended last week with Alcorn State’s 56-0 loss to Arkansas State.

Now, the beatup Braves (1-3, 1-1) return home today for a Southwestern Athletic Conference game against Alabama State (2-2, 2-1).

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Jack Spinks/Mario Casem Stadium.

First-year Alcorn State coach Jay Hopson said the trip to Arkansas State was a long, tough, experience.

“Tough game. We certainly have got some things we have to clean up,” Hopson said during this week’s SWAC teleconference.

The Braves were down 42-0 at the half and finished the game with only 39 passing yards. They have scored just nine points in their last three games, all losses.

Hopson gave plenty of credit for the last defeat to Arkansas State.

“Their two losses were to (No. 2) Oregon and (No. 23) Nebraska. They are a senior-laden team that put up nearly 600 yards on Oregon’s defense,” Hopson said. “The quarterback (Ryan Aplin) was outstanding. They could definitely win the Sun Belt Conference again. Obviously we would have like to play better than we did.”

Now the Braves must regroup for Alabama State (2-2, 1-1) which is coming off a 24-21 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week on a game televised by ESPNU.

“We have a really good Alabama State team coming to town,” Hopson said. “Everybody knows about the running back (Isaiah Crowell) and their quarterback is a good player.”

Crowell started at tailback for Georgia last season and was named the Associated Press’ SEC Freshman of the Year. In June, he was kicked off the team by coach Mark Richt after an arrest on gun charges. He transferred to Alabama State, where he has rushed for 231 yards and five TDs in four games.

Quarterback Greg Jenkins actually leads the Hornets in rushing with 340 yards and has also passed for another 651 yards. Wide receiver T.C. McWilliams is the top outside threat with 21 receptions for 239 yards and two scores.

Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow, however, has not been pleased with his team’s defense.

“Our defense has not been performing up to our expectations,” Barlow said. “Guys are running free and not being touched until 5 yards down field. Every game. we’ve allowed a 100-yard rusher. We have to stop the run.”

For Hopson, the big concern are his Braves.

“We have to go back to the basics and do the little things right,” he said.