LORMAN &045; If there’s anybody to lead a rally cry and get everyone on the Alcorn State team pumped up for today, it’s the seniors.

It’s the Alcorn seniors who want a win today over Jackson State more than likely anyone in attendance at the Capital City Classic in Veterans Memorial Stadium. They’re the group that has come up together and started out with that horrendous 0-11 campaign followed by two straight middle-of-the-pack 6-5 seasons.

Today if the Braves win and Alabama State loses to Texas Southern, the Braves will earn a berth in the SWAC Championship next month.

&uot;It’s very, very special to be around those guys,&uot; Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas said. &uot;I just hope they can experience a little success so their experience at Alcorn will be one they will never forget. They’ve experienced a little success, and I hope we can continue to have success.&uot;

It’s a huge game &045; moreso than every other game, which were all big leading up until this one &045; today with the Tigers, who have struggled through a 2-9 season under first-year head coach James Bell and have been eliminated from the postseason picture for two weeks now.

It’s the Braves who are in a must-win game in their final week of the season for the first time in Thomas’ six years at Alcorn, and it’s an opportunity the seniors don’t want to pass up.

Add to it the fact that it’s a game against their biggest rival, and there’s a chance none of those seniors slept too much last night.

&uot;It’s Jackson State,&uot; senior defensive tackle Bryan Williams said. &uot;If you can’t get up for Jackson State, get off the field. This is my last game. I’m just putting my best foot forward so 10 years down the road I won’t worry about what I should have done.&uot;

There will be no scoreboard watching, either, the Braves admitted. The Braves (6-5, 4-2) need help from Texas Southern since they lost to the Hornets (6-4, 4-2) earlier in the season when it was in that early swoon where turnovers plagued them tremendously.

All attention will be focused on Jackson State, since Alcorn hasn’t beaten the Tigers since 1994 and will just go home if it loses the game today.

&uot;Our first objective is to beat Jackson State,&uot; linebacker Dwan Wilson said. &uot;We’ll worry about what happened in the Texas Southern-Alabama State game after we handle our business. We haven’t beaten them in 10 years, and it would mean a lot to beat them. It’s been a long time, and it’s been a long time coming.&uot;

In order to be successful, the Braves will have to perform defensively to contain a dangerous Robert Kent at quarterback for Jackson State. How well he performs today remains to be seen since a toe injury has kept him from playing 100 percent since the fifth game of the season.

His injury has been a big part of the Tigers’ struggles this year, but the Braves aren’t preparing for a mediocre effort from Kent. All you have to do is recall the five touchdown passes he hung on the Braves in the JSU win last year, and you’ve got their attention.

&uot;Right now, he’s not hurt,&uot; Williams said. &uot;He’s going to play Saturday. It’s his last college game. They’re going to go back to what they’re good at &045; throwing it. Once we make them one-dimensional, they’ll go to the ground with a lot of draws.&uot;

At least the Braves’ defense comes in with a great deal of momentum, playing perhaps their best defense in a few seasons. The defense has been a big part in their four-game winning streak and made pivotal stops in last week’s win over Alabama A&M.;

Now up against Kent and his big-play ability both running and passing, the defense will get its biggest test yet.