By Matt Sigler

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — When it comes to the Jackson State and Alcorn State rivalry, records are thrown out the window.

And they were Saturday afternoon in Lorman, where an up and down Jackson State team took down the Southwestern Conference East champion Braves, 34-31. With the win, Jackson State closed the season at 5-7, while Alcorn State fell to 9-3.

“It has been a long road for us,” Jackson State head coach Harold Jackson said. “If we don’t turn the ball over and beat ourselves, nobody is going to do it. We just had to hang in there together and we got it done.”

Both teams had early opportunities to get into the end zone, but after the first quarter, field goals were the only scores.

Jackson State kicker Ryan Deising connected on kicks from 28 and 46 yards to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead. Then, Braves kicker Haiden McCraney sent a kick through the uprights from 22 yards out to cut the Jackson State lead in half.

It didn’t take long for Jackson State to answer, though. Quarterback LaMontiez Ivy rumbled into the end zone from two yards out to push the Tiger lead to 13-3 with 12:45 left in the second quarter.

Alcorn responded a few minutes later with a touchdown of its own on a 48-yard run from Anthony Williams III. Williams finished as the leading rusher for the Braves with 79 yards on the night.

Both team’s defenses highlighted the third quarter, allowing no points and keeping the score at 20-17 in favor of Jackson State.

But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Alcorn took the lead back on an 18-yard pass from Gibbs to Billy Shed.

A few minutes later, the Braves were in the end zone again on a 1-yard run from Gibbs, and appeared to be in control of the game, up 31-20, with a little more than eight minutes to play.

After holding off Alcorn, Ivy and the Tigers took over on offense again, and, like he had done just a few minutes before, Ivy led Jackson State down the field.

The Tigers secured the win on Ivy’s third touchdown toss of the night, this time to DeSean McKenzie from 45 yards out to give the Tigers a 34-31 lead.