Alcorn State wins SWAC opener 56-20 over MVSU

ITTA BENA, Miss. -- Noah Johnson rushed for three touchdowns as Alcorn State gained 462 yards on the ground, defeating Mississippi Valley State 56-20 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference opener Saturday night.

Alcorn State (3-1, 1-0) had three players gain more than 100 yards rushing. PJ Simmons led with 210 yards and a TD on 24 carries, Johnson gained 139 on 10 carries and Marquise Foreman 119 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Johnson also passed for 203 yards and a touchdown.

MVSU (0-3, 0-1) jumped to a 7-0 lead, but Simmons tied it with a 33-yard run and the Braves scored the next 27 points to lead 27-7 at halftime. Booker Chambers returned a punt 90 yards to bring the Delta Devils to 27-14 in the third quarter.

Alcorn State scored four unanswered touchdowns with Foreman's 50-yarder boosting the score to 54-14 with 6:30 remaining.

Dejerric Bryant threw a TD pass to Quinn McElfresh with 55 seconds left, but the PAT kick was blocked and returned by Qwynnterrio Cole for Alcorn State's final two points.

MVSU was held to 22 yards rushing, 178 through the air.