LORMAN, Miss. – Despite storming back from a 17-0 first quarter deficit, the Prairie View A&M football team came up short in a 45-41 shootout versus defending conference champion Alcorn State in the teams' Southwestern Athletic Conference opener Saturday evening at Spinks-Casem Stadium.

After the Braves (2-2, 1-0 SWAC) controlled the first quarter – a pair of Panther drives were halted by interceptions -- Prairie View A&M (1-3, 0-1 SWAC) set about on the comeback trail. Just two minutes into the second quarter, senior quarterback Jalen Morton hit junior receiver Tony Mullins for a 66-yard score to cap an 11-play, 75-yard drive and put the Panthers on the board.

Following a three-and-out for the Braves, the Panthers continued to cut into Alcorn's lead as Morton continued to bounce back from a slow start. The Panthers ultimately marched down the field in seven plays, and Morton found junior receiver Kelejawan Chriss for a 21-yard touchdown pass, making the game 17-13 Alcorn with 8:32 left in the half.

The Prairie View defense came up big on Alcorn's ensuing possession, forcing another three-and-out before freshman Ahmad Antoine swooped in and blocked the ensuing punt, which was recovered at the Braves' 1-yard line by senior Caleb Broach. One play later, senior running back Dawonya Tucker punched it in to give Prairie View A&M a 19-17 lead.

The sides traded punts, but a Panthers fumble during a punt return allowed Alcorn to set up shop at PVAMU's 5-yard line. From there, Felix Harper ran it in as the Braves took a 24-19 lead into halftime.

The teams traded turnovers to open the third quarter – following an Alcorn interception, but junior Storey Jackson punched the ball out and teammate Trey Turner pounced on it at the Braves' 13-yard line – before Morton put the Panthers back ahead with a 16-yard scoring strike to senior tight end Jordan Jones and later converted a two-point try to make it 27-24 Panthers with 10:29 to go in the third.

The Panthers pushed their lead to 10 as the Morton/Jones connection struck again, this time from 18 yards out to cap a six-play, 57-yard drive as PVAMU went ahead 34-24. Alcorn responded with a seven-yard touchdown run by Niko Duffey on its next possession to close within one possession heading to the final quarter. 

The Braves regained the upper hand, as Duffey scored from six yards out to finish off a drive that spanned the end of the third quarter and the early goings of the fourth. Undeterred, the Panthers answered with a vengeance as Tucker gashed the Braves defense and – after a pair of completions from Morton to junior wideout Tristian Wallace – hit paydirt from 12 yards out to hand the Panthers the lead with 12:27 to go. 

Defense ruled until the Braves managed to put together a 14-play, 65-yard drive – capped by a 3-yard touchdown toss from Harper to Tim McNair, Jr. – that put the Braves up with 40 ticks left. The Panthers' final crack at it was unsuccessful.

On the night, PVAMU outgained Alcorn in total offense 508-405. Morton accounted for 366 total yards of offense (321 passing) and four touchdown passes. He completed 23-of-35 passes. Tucker shined with 128 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Mullins recorded 84 yards on four grabs. Tristen Wallace led the team with seven catches for 79 yards, and Jones hauled in five passes for 75 yards..

Defensively, junior linebacker Tre'Shaud Smith had another strong outing with 10 stops and a sack. Sophomore Jason Dumas added seven stops and a sack.

The Panthers will attempt to regroup next weekend versus Grambling State during the State Fair Classic. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. from Dallas in the Cotton Bowl.