GSU Head Coach Post Game Presser

HOUSTON – The Alcorn State University Braves (8-2 SWAC, 9-3 Overall) can now book a flight for a trip to the Georgia Dome to face the Mideastern Athletic Conference Champions North Carolina A&T in the first Celebration Bowl after a 49-21 win against The Grambling State Tigers (9-1 SWAC, 9-3 Overall) in the 2015 Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game.

Grambling was outplayed by Alcorn's 613 yards. ASU running back Darryan Ragsdale gave the G-Men a run for their money with a total of 188 rushing yards, earning him the most valuable player award.

At one point, Ragsdale exploded through the G-Men's defense with a 57-yard run to the 16-yard line only to result in an unsuccessful field goal attempt. Alcorn has made only .333 of its field goals this season, last in that category in conference play.  The Braves are also ninth in conference for point-after-touchdown points.

GSU did not do enough to take advantage of ASU mistakes, and the team had too many turnovers, according to second-year head football coach Broderick Fobbs. Grambling State had five turnovers, including three fumbles, two with turnovers, and three interceptions. It cost them the SWAC championship.

"The name of the game is 'He who turns the ball over loses and we did,'" said Fobbs. "We just didn't have it. They played a better game than we did."

The Braves were the first to put points on the board. Ragsdale ran an 84-yard touchdown, and with Alcorn's extra point kick, ASU led 7-0 with 3:31 left in the first quarter. When Grambling State got the ball, GSU quarterback Johnathan Williams threw his 16th interception of the season on third down on the 24-yard line. It was caught by Alcorn's No. 24 Warren Gatewood for a touchdown. Alcorn extended its lead to 14 with the G-Men still scoreless.

GSU finally got on the board with six seconds into the second quarter. Johnathan Williams kept the football for a 17-yard rushing touchdown. The score was 14-7.

Alcorn answered six plays later with a touchdown by wide receiver Marquis Warford. Grambling was then down by 14.

On the next possession, GSU wide receiver Verlan Hunter caught a 24-yard pass from Johnathan Williams to cut the lead to seven.

Warford answered again with another touchdown for Alcorn with 2:32 before halftime.

After halftime, both teams were having trouble taking care of the ball, but Grambling State seemed to have to more trouble, fumbling the football near its own goal line and putting Alcorn in the red zone. GSU defensive lineman Donovan McCray then forced an Alcorn fumble, giving Grambling possession of the football again. Grambling moved the ball down the field and Johnathan Williams threw another interception, caught by Gatewood.

During another possession, Grambling fumbled again while attempting to receive the ball, and Alcorn recovered it once again. Each team scored a final time in the fourth quarter. The final score was 42-21.

After the disappointing loss, Fobbs said that he couldn't be more proud of his coaches and his team. The G-Men ended the season with a perfect regular season record for the first time since 2008 under then-head football coach Rod Broadway, now head football coach of Alcorn's SWAC-MEAC opponent North Carolina A&T. They will play in the Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on Dec. 19.