Alcorn Beaten By Boyd’s Break Out.
Prairie View A&M’s Ben Boyd rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown as Prairie View A&M beat Alcorn State 17-7 on Saturday. The duo of Ben Boyd (six carries, 124 yards, 1 TD) and Donald Babers (28 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD) supplied most of the offense. Boyd scored on a 23-yard run to tie the score 7-7 early in the third quarter and also set up Brady Faggard's 24-yard game-clinching field goal with a 79-yard run late in the fourth-quarter. Boyd averaged 20.6 yards per carry. The Panthers held the Braves had just 174 total yards in the game. Even with Alcorn’s poor offensive play, they still held at 7-0 halftime lead thanks to an electric 70-yard punt return by Nate Hughes with just over a minute remaining in the half. However Alcorn’s hopes were dashed by forced four turnovers (two interceptions, two fumbles).
Panther’s linebacker Zach East led the way with 11 tackles (10 solo, 1 assisted). With the way East has played so far, he's a strong candidate to receive SWAC Defensive Player of the Year honors at the end of the season.
Both offenses stumbled, at least in part do to good defense, PV QB Mark Spivey (11-of-25, 95 yards, 1 interception), but rolled up 340 total yards. Alcorn State's WR Nate Hughes gave the Braves a 7-0 halftime lead with a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown. If the diminutive Boyd was lightning then Donald Babers who gave Prairie View a 14-7 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes left in the third to, was thunder. His tough runs put some distance between the Panthers and the favored Braves.
Prairie View- Offense-
Note Donald Babers RB #: 13 is just a sophomore and apparently he was not expected to make much impact the schools website had no measurables or uniform # for him. I can only guess at his size, he has good body lean and vision but seemed more quick than fast. He also looked good as a receiver with 5 catches for 55 yards to supplement his 96 yards rushing on 28 carries and 2 kick returns for 36 yards.
2009- #23 TB/WR 5’5.7” 152 4.48 Est. Ben Boyd is a tailback in a slot receiver’s body, he played both but did virtually all his damage taking the ball behind the line of scrimmage. He did have 1 catch for 8 yards in addition to rushing for 124 yards on 6 carries and 1 TD with a 79 yard bolt to his credit. He might have a chance as Sproles type on the year he has 4 KO returns for 93 yards, he’ll need to do more on teams.
Defense-
#7 LB 6’1.4” 228 4.76 Est. Zach East- Active 10 solos, 1 assist, 1 TFL, instinctive and field fast the best senior prospect the Panthers have, most likely a UDFA who can make a roster if he impressed on special teams.
Zach Haynes The Big DT did not play he may have been hurt, no mention was made of an injury or suspension.
Alcorn State
#5 WR 6’1.1” 188 4.61 Est. 182Nate Hughes the most heralded offense prospect in the game was held almost completely in check with only 1 catch for minus 1 yard, however he was the source of the only special teams fireworks of the game with a 70 yard TD return that highlighted Hughes balance and vision though his speed is only average.
TB #2 5’9.6 207 4.64 Est. Vernardus Cooper was bottled up all day with only 49 yards on 18 carries and no runs were longer than 14 yards! He did not look like NFL depth.
Defense
MLB #49 5.11.7 234 4.85 Est. Antonio Cooper showed good instincts and was rarely out of position but seemed to lack explosion, he had 2 solos and 2 assists. He did not look like a future pro.
CB #1 Oliver Boseman 6’3.6 186 The former prep star QB from Dillard HS, [perhaps they should put him back under center from what I’ve seen.] was avoided on the few passses attempted he had 1 solo and 1 assist, he looked fluid but may not have the hips to play corner, he might be an UDFA as a FS/Nickel, think of a Rawer Merton Hanks.
