LORMAN — Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge has shown such great promise since becoming the starter three games ago that the ASU sports information department is trying to think of nicknames for him.

But he is still a true freshman. And against Texas Southern’s relentless pressure, you could tell.

The Tigers’ pressure flustered Bridge all game long, forcing him to throw two interceptions, cough up a fumble and take a crucial sack in the final minute of the Braves’ 30-20 loss.

Alcorn coach Earnest Collins knew his team was going up against the best defense in the SWAC, and knew they would bring the pressure against Bridge.

“Anytime you face a freshman at quarterback you’re going to want to rattle him,” Collins said. “And that’s what they tried to do the whole game.”

But even though the Texas Southern defense held the Braves to just eight first downs and 31 rushing yards, Alcorn still had a chance to win or tie in the final minutes.

Trailing 23-20, Alcorn got the ball back at its own 18-yard line with 2:05 remaining.

Bridge connected on a 29-yard pass to Ryan Singleton to give the Braves a first down at the Texas Southern 29 with 1:22 remaining.

However, Bridge was sacked on first down, which put the Braves out of field goal range.

Two incomplete passes later, Alcorn was forced to go for it on fourth and 16, and Bridge was sacked again.

He fumbled the ball and Jerome Thomas picked it up and rumbled 65 yards for a touchdown that salted the game away with 29 seconds remaining.

“With a young quarterback, you’ve got to teach him when to throw it away and when to try and make a play,” Collins said. “Especially when you get into a situation like on our last drive. We were in field goal range and he takes a sack. You’ve got to throw the ball away and go from there.”

While the Alcorn offense was stagnant most of the day, the defense once again came through with some big plays to help them out.

Randy Carter recovered a fumble by Dechon Daniels at the Texas Southern 8-yard line early in the first quarter, which set up Alcorn’s opening touchdown.

Bridge capped off the short drive with a 6-yard strike to Edward Johnson in the back of the end zone.

After Texas Southern took a 10-7 lead in the second quarter, the Braves defense once again came through, as Carter sacked Tigers quarterback Arvell Nelson, forcing him to fumble.

Ceasar Cobb picked up the fumble and ran 54 yards for a touchdown that put Alcorn up 14-10 at halftime.

Texas Southern added a field goal on its opening possession before a mistake by the Alcorn special teams set up the Tigers’ go-ahead touchdown.

William Osborne returned a punt 63 yards to the Alcorn 13-yard line, and it only took two plays for the Tigers to stick it in the end zone, as Marcus Wright ran in from 9 yards out to put the Tigers up 20-14.

“It’s just things we’ve got to work on with our kick coverage and getting all of our players in the right places,” Collins said. “We’re going to continue to work on it and get it done.”

Alcorn would come right back with its best offensive drive of the game, as Bridge capped it off with a spectacular 37-yard touchdown scramble late in the third quarter.

However, special teams bit the Braves again, as Arturo Tamayo’s extra point was wide right and the score remained tied at 20.

Another mistake led to Texas Southern’s go-ahead points, as Bridge threw an interception that was returned to the Alcorn 35-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

Robert Hersh put the Tigers on top to stay with a 30-yard field goal with 10:21 remaining.

With the loss, the Braves fall to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the SWAC.

Texas Southern’s overall record is 3-3 and the Tigers improved to 3-1 in conference play.

Alcorn will hit the road next Saturday to take on Grambling State, which is undefeated in conference play.