LORMAN — It’s a position that every school in the SWAC East division wants to be in, but right now, only Alcorn State can say the magic words.

“We control our destiny.”

With Alcorn’s win over Alabama A&M and Jackson State’s loss to Alabama State last week, the Braves move to the head of the class in the East division.

A win in their final two games means the Braves (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) will advance to the SWAC championship game for the first time ever.

“That’s all you can ask for,” Alcorn State head coach Earnest Collins said. “When you don’t have to depend on anybody else for your future, that’s really all you can ask for in a football season. All we have to do is win and we’re in, and that’s what we aim to do.”

But it won’t be easy for the Braves, as they travel to play defending SWAC champions Prairie View A&M on Saturday.

And a loss to the Panthers would end their championship hopes.

The Panthers (5-4, 4-3 SWAC) have battled some key injuries this season and are not in contention for the West division title, but Collins said they are still a dangerous team.

“I’ve got great respect for coach Henry Frazier and his staff,” Collins said. “He has done an outstanding job with turning that program around. If he doesn’t end up in the hall of fame at Prairie View, I don’t know who will.

“Coach Frazier will have them ready to play and we’re going to have to bring our A game to come out with a victory.”

And that includes Alcorn quarterback Brandon Bridge continuing to play the way he did last week against Alabama A&M.

The freshman had the best game of his career, completing 9 of 14 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 50 yards and another touchdown.

But Bridge’s most important statistic in the game was his zero interceptions.

“Anytime you can get a win and be as efficient as he was, that’s a good day,” Collins said. “We ran the ball 40 times and threw it 15. That’s the offensive coordinator protecting him and him taking care of the football.”

After losing four consecutive games, the Braves have won two straight, and a key has been the resurgence of the running game with the addition of Terrence Lewis at running back.

The Braves rushed for 222 yards on 51 carries two weeks ago against Southern and 127 yards on 40 carries against the Bulldogs last week.

“We want to be balanced,” Collins said. “Anytime you can get a run game going, it’s easier to throw the ball. We want to go out and establish the run. It helps our defense out with time of possession and is better for our football program.”

And it is also good for Bridge, Collins said.

“He is one of those kids who wants to be great, and sometimes gets ahead of himself and wants to do it all,” Collins said. “He doesn’t have to do that. Let your teammates help you win the game. When we can run the ball, it helps him out a whole lot.”

It has been a season of streaks for the Braves, who began the year winning three in a row before suffering through their four-game slide.

Now, Collins knows the Braves need another streak if they want to win their first conference title since Steve McNair’s senior year in 1994.

“We came out and won three straight, then we lost four straight,” Collins said. “Now we’re trying to win five straight to bring home a SWAC championship.”