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.