LORMAN, Miss. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge by the Alcorn State Braves turned a competitive contest into a decisive victory as they defeated the Southern Jaguars 35-17 on Saturday at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

After a slow start that saw them trailing after the first quarter, the Braves erupted for 21 points in the third quarter to seize control of the game and improve their season record to 4-6. The loss extends a difficult season for Southern, which now sits at 1-9.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with Southern’s offense managing to piece together the only sustained drive of the opening period. The Jaguars engineered a methodical march downfield, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from Trey Holly with 5:14 remaining in the quarter. The score gave Southern an early 7-0 lead, which it held through the end of the first.

Alcorn State’s offense, which was stymied for much of the first quarter, found its rhythm in the second. The Braves tied the game early in the period on a 1-yard touchdown plunge by offensive lineman Cameran Rogers, a play that signaled a shift in momentum. Later in the quarter, Jarvis Rush broke free for a 4-yard touchdown run to give Alcorn State its first lead of the day. Southern managed to answer just before halftime, with Nathan Zimmer connecting on a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the half, narrowing the Braves’ lead to 14-10 at the break.

Any hope for a Southern comeback was extinguished in a decisive third quarter. Alcorn State quarterback Jaylon Tolbert, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Hollywood, Florida, took over the game, showcasing his dual-threat ability. He first powered his way into the end zone on a 7-yard run to extend the Braves’ lead. Minutes later, he connected with Omarion Blakes on an 18-yard touchdown pass, further widening the gap.

The Braves’ defense then contributed directly to the scoring. Southern’s Ashton Strother, a quarterback from Memphis, Tennessee, had a pass intercepted by Landon Carter, who returned it for a touchdown, suddenly ballooning the lead to 35-10. The Jaguars managed a response late in the quarter, but the damage was done.

Tolbert finished the game having completed 12 of 22 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 41 yards and another score. His ability to spread the ball around was key, with Blakes, Tyran Warren, and Neico Sandifer all making key receptions.

The Braves’ ground game was a multifaceted weapon. Reggie Davis, a running back from Montgomery, Alabama, was the workhorse, grinding out 110 yards on 17 carries. He was complemented by Camren Stewart and Carl McDonald Jr., who combined for 80 rushing yards, keeping the Southern defense off balance throughout the second half.

For Southern, quarterback Ashton Strother struggled with consistency, completing 14 of 31 passes for 168 yards. His primary target was Darren Morris, who hauled in five catches for 81 yards. The Jaguars’ rushing attack was largely contained, with Trey Holly being held to 13 yards on 10 carries, though he did account for both of Southern’s touchdowns.

The loss marks the seventh straight for the Jaguars, who will look to regroup before hosting Texas Southern next Saturday. Alcorn State, having won three of its last four games, will aim to continue its improved form when it hosts Grambling next Saturday. The game result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast a higher-scoring affair with Alcorn State winning 41-32, and its ELO system gave the Braves an 84.30 percent probability to win.