LaDarius Owens, Texas Southern Upset Alcorn State
HOUSTON - In a rare Sunday football game in the SWAC, the Texas Southern Tigers became spoilers by defeating the Alcorn Braves, 38-7, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, TX. The Tigers entered the game as a double-digit underdog to the Braves, who were on the precipice of winning the SWAC West. However, this is why you play the games. All Fred McNair's team had to do was to beat Texas Southern, and the Braves would punch a trip to meet Florida A&M in the 2023 SWAC Football Championship game. But the Tigers didn't get the memo!
"We played a complete game...it all came together tonight," Texas Southern's head coach Clarence McKinney told the media in his postgame interview.
TSU quarterback Jace Wilson started the game's scoring with a 67-yard bomb to wide receiver Trenton Leary with 10:02 on the 1st-quarter clock, 7-0. Next, the conference's best running back, LaDarius Owens, rushed 10 yards to notch the Tigers' second touchdown of the period, going up 14-0.
Alcorn State responded when last season's SWAC rushing champ Jarveon Howard had a 7-yard burst for a touchdown to bring them within 7 points, 14-7. TSU's offensive coordinator David Marsh's offense had enough of the back-and-forth shenanigans and went to work on the Braves' defense.
Nov. 12, 2023; Texas Southern running back LaDarius Owens versus Alcorn State at Shell Energy Stadium; Credit: Prentice C. James/ImagoHouse
The Tigers rattled off 21 unanswered points before halftime. How? Leary passed for a 15-yard touchdown reception to C'ing Blanton. Jacorey Howard broke through the Alcorn defensive line for a 4-yard scamper. Finally, Owens scored on a 20-yarder, giving the Tigers a 35-7 lead at halftime.
The game got defensive early in the 3rd quarter until Texas Southern's placekicker Gustavo Romero booted a 24-yarder to extend the lead 38-7. Alcorn matched the field goal with Noah Kiani's 22-yard field goal to inch closer at 38-10.
"I thought we prepared for some of the things they were going do to us, offense and defense," Alcorn State Coach Fred McNair told reporters. He continued, "They had a couple of big plays and and all that kind of stuff."
However, Sunday was the LaDarius Owens show. He became the Tigers' all-time leading rusher and ballooned his lead as the SWAC's rushing title hopes with 24 carries and 211 yards. It would be surprising not to see Owens in a pro uniform next season. He finally sealed the deal with a 62-yard touchdown run off the left tackle. Romero's extra point was blocked, and the Tigers sent the Braves packing with a 44-10 victory at home.
"All he does this come to work. Do what he's coached to do, what he's asked to do. And and he doesn't complain. He he shows up each and every day no matter what it is. He just shows up and he goes to work," McKinney said about LaDarius Owens.
Jace Wilson passed 17 of 23 attempts for 288 yards and a touchdown, while the Braves' signal-caller Aaron Allen threw 40 times for 19 completions, 259 yards, and an interception.
Texas Southern's offense amassed 499 yards compared to 318 yards by Alcorn State. Another outstanding outing was by wideout Trenton Leary, who gave the Braves secondary problems the entire contest. Leary caught and passed for a touchdown but had an impressive six catches for 137 yards - most were highly contested receptions.
Alcorn has a challenging final outing ahead at Jackson State on Saturday. Should the Braves lose and Prairie View defeat Alabama State, the Panthers most likely would win the SWAC West championship and face Florida A&M at the SWAC Football Championship game in Tallahassee, FL, on Dec. 4. Still, Southern and Grambling have a chance in the SWAC tie-breaking scenarios. The "Wacky" SWAC!
The Texas Southern Tigers will host the UAPB Golden Lions in their season finale at 2 PM CT at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19.
SWAC'S TIE-BREAKER RULES
Tie-Breaker Format
Two Team Tie
a. Head-to-head competition between the two tied teams.
b. Records of the tied teams within the division.
c. Head-to-head competition versus the team within the division with the best overall (divisional and non-divisional) Conference record and proceeding through the division. Multiple ties within the division will be broken from first to last.
d. Overall record versus non-division teams.
e. Combined record versus all common non-divisional teams.
f. Record versus common non-divisional team with the best overall Conference (divisional and non-divisional) record and proceeding through other common non-divisional teams based on their order of finish within their division.
g. Coin flip
Three Team Tie
Three (or more) Team Tie (Once the tie has been reduced to two teams, go to the two-team tie breaker format)
a. Head-to-head competition between the tied teams.
b. Records of the tied teams within the division.
c. Head-to-head competition versus the team within the division with the best overall (divisional and non-divisional) Conference record and proceeding through the division. Multiple ties within the division will be broken from first to last.
d. Overall record versus non-division teams.
e. Combined record versus all common non-divisional teams.
f. Record versus common non-divisional team with the best overall Conference (divisional and non-divisional) record and proceeding through other common non-divisional teams based on their order of finish within their division.
g. Best point differential between the tied teams in head-to-head matchups
h. Coin Flip