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Emporia State got five touchdown passes from game MVP Braxton Marstall on the way to a 30-22 win against Arkansas-Monticello in the second annual Corsicana Bowl in Corsicana, Texas.
After back-to-back punts to open the game, the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils went on a 99-yard drive to take the lead on a one yard run by quarterback Cole Sears. Kyle Rinck blocked the extra point to make it 6-0 with 5:04 left in the first quarter.
The Hornets tied the game on a 32 yard pass from Marstall to Jordan Reed with six seconds left in the quarter, but a missed extra point left the game tied at 6.
Emporia State took a 12-6 lead on its first drive of the second quarter when Marstall connected with Reed again on an eight yard pass with 11:13 left in the half. The extra point was blocked.
After two punts, Arkansas-Monticello took over at its own 47 yard line with 5:26 left in the half. The Boll Weevils took 12 plays and 4:27 off the clock to go 22 yards before settling for a 48-yard field goal from Josh Marini with 59 seconds left.
Three plays and two Boll Weevil penalties later, Marstall hit Justin Brown on a 45-yard touchdown with two seconds left. After the try for two failed, Emporia State went to the locker room up 18-9.
The Boll Weevils forced the Hornets into a three-and-out to start the second half and then went 55 yards in four plays and pulled within 18-16 on an 18-yard pass from Sears to DeAndre Washington with 10:54 left in the third.
The Boll Weevils took the lead later at 19-18 on a 35-yard field goal from Marini with 5:56 left in the third.
The Hornets only needed four plays to go 55 yards as Marstall hit Tyler Harris, who made a diving, one-handed catch from 31 yards out to put Emporia State back up 24-19 with 4:18 left in the quarter.
Both defenses stiffened during the next four drives before Arkansas-Monticello got another field goal from Marini, this one for 31 yards, to pull within 24-22 with 12:29 left in the game.
Another big return from Travon Jones gave the Hornets the ball at the Emporia State 36-yard line. Marstall connected with Landon Nault for 44 yards on first down, and two plays later, he hit Harris for a 13 yard touchdown and a 30-22 lead with 11:03 left in the game.
Marstall finished the game 22 of 30 for 315 yards with five touchdowns while adding 21 yards on 14 carries.
Reed was his favorite target, catching seven passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Harris had 67 yards and two touchdowns on four catches, while Brown added a touchdown and 56 yards on two receptions.
Nault had 77 yards on four catches and added a team-high 59 yards on 14 carries.
Logan Thompson had a career-high 15 tackles with a sack, forced fumble and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Jace McDown had nine tackles and two pass break ups, while Brent Davenport added four pass break ups.
With the win Emporia State finished the season 8-4, tying for the ninth most wins in school history.

After a strong performance in the first half by the Nicholls State University football team, No. 3-seed Eastern Washington changed the game’s momentum with a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, and the Colonels eventually were defeated 42-21 in the second round of the FCS playoffs Saturday evening at Roos Field.
With the loss, Nicholls finished the year at 9-4, with the nine wins being the second-most in school history. Eastern Washington (10-2) will host next weekend’s quarterfinals game.
The Colonels held a 14-3 lead after rushing touchdowns by Chase Fourcade and Dontrell Taylor through the game’s first 17 minutes.
Nicholls was set up for a field goal right before the break, but the attempt was blocked by Dylan Bedletter, and Kedrick Johnson scooped it up for a 55-yard touchdown return. The score started 39 straight points for the Eagles before Fourcade rushed for a 34-yard touchdown to make the final.
Fourcade threw for 146 yards on 17 of 30 and matched his career high of 89 yards rushing. A 16-yard completion to Damion Jeanpiere Jr. in the second quarter put Fourcade No. 1 on the Colonels’ all-time passing list, surpassing Doug Hudson’s mark of 7,670 yards set in 1986. Fourcade’s two rushing touchdowns gave him 13 for the season, tying Broderick Cole’s single-season record set in 2005.
Nicholls churned out 235 yards rushing, led by Taylor’s fifth 100-yard game of the season as he totaled 112 on 20 carries. But Taylor had one of the Colonels’ two turnovers in the second half, along with a pick-six by Fourcade.
Eastern Washington was fueled by Sam McPherson, who rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Most of the damage came in the second half, including a 34-yard touchdown run that gave Eastern Washington a 35-14 lead in the fourth quarter. He was only the second 100-yard rusher against the Colonels this season, leading to 237 yards rushing for the Eagles.
Khristian Mims led the Colonel defense with a career-high 11 tackles and had an interception on the game’s opening drive. The turnover made way for a 1-yard sneak by Fourcade for the day’s first touchdown.
The Eagles drove down inside the 5 on their next drive, but the Colonels stuffed a third-down rush and limited them to a field goal.
Early in the second, Taylor went untouched from three yards out for a 14-3 advantage. The drive was kept alive on a 14-yard pass from Fourcade to Arron McKenney on third-and-10.
Both teams had scoring opportunities in the second, but Lorran Fonseca missed short a 50-yard field goal for the Colonels. The Eagles had another successful drive deep into Nicholls territory before Hezekiah White forced a fumble on a Tamarick Pierce rush, and Corey Abraham recovered the ball at the 12-yard line.
Nicholls marched down the field looking to go up 17-3 with the field goal attempt with seconds on the clock, but the block and return put the score at 14-10.
In the third, Eric Barriere gave Eastern Washington its first lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Boston.
After the Colonels punted for the second-straight drive, the Eagles added a field goal for a 20-14 lead heading into the fourth.
Nicholls had its first turnover of the night early in the final period as Taylor lost the ball at the Colonel 30 after hauling in a reception.
Eastern Washington ran a half-back pass by McPherson for a big gain, and he then ran in for a 4-yard touchdown, making the score 28-14 after a successful two-point try.
The Colonels continued to struggle on offense with another 3-and-out, and McPherson scored again, this time from 34 yards out.
Fourcade then threw an interception in the red zone, and it was returned 95 yards by Ketner Kupp for Eastern Washington’s final touchdown.
Despite the loss, the Colonels set several milestones this season. Nicholls won its second Southland Conference title and earned its second playoff victory in team history. In addition to Fourcade’s records, Taylor, a junior, set a new program mark with his ninth career 100-yard game.
Nicholls redshirt junior and Central Catholic alum Garret LeBlanc also received playing time.

Down by one headed into the fourth quarter, the Alcorn State University football program scored the final 10 points of the game to win the 2018 SWAC Champion-ship 37-28 against Southern Saturday at Jack Spinks-Marino Casem Stadium.
The go-ahead score was a 41-yard field goal by junior Corey McCullough with 11:31 left. The Braves (9-3, 6-1 SWAC) put the game away with a 14-yard touchdown run by junior De’Shawn Waller with 3:47 remaining.
Junior quarterback Noah Johnson, the 2018 SWAC Offensive Player of the Year, was named the 2018 SWAC Championship Offensive Most Valuable Player. He threw for 135 yards on 18-of-25 passing and rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars (7-4, 6-1 SWAC).
The SWAC Championship Defensive MVP was junior Brelion Hollis. He led the Braves with seven tackles, including 0.5 sacks.
Alcorn sacked Southern quarterback Ladarius Skel-ton six times, and junior Terry Whittington had 1.5 sacks.
Alcorn outgained Southern 518-347 in total offense, including 370-123 in rushing.
Waller, the 2018 SWAC Newcomer of the Year, ran for a game-high 177 yards and three touchdowns, in-cluding an 83-yard score.
Johnson connected with eight different receivers. Senior Dayall Harris hauled in a team-high six receptions for 50 yards.
Defensively, junior Javen Morrison grabbed an inter-ception and returned it 38 yards. Sophomore Qwynnterrio Cole tied for a team-high seven tackles and had two pass break-ups. Morrison and Cole were All-Conference First-Team honorees.
Skelton was dangerous all night for the Jags as he totaled four touchdowns. He threw for 194 yards and a score and ran for 65 yards and three touchdowns.
Trey Smith caught seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown for Southern.
The Jaguars got the ball first and started with good field position after the kick return was brought to the Southern 46. Skelton kept the first play on a quarter-back-option run and picked up 15 yards to the Alcorn 39.
Southern then was situated with a 4th-and-1 at the Alcorn 30 and got the first down on a two-yard run by Benn. The Jaguars scored on the following play on a 28-yard run to the left by Skelton to take a 7-0 lead at the 12:26 mark.
On Alcorn’s first posses-sion, the Braves started with a 12-yard completion to Harris. Johnson then kept it on a dash to the right for a gain of 22 to the Southern 42.
The Braves advanced the ball to the Southern 26 after a pass interference call, and a first-down grab by fresh-man Juan Anthony Jr. on a screen setup Alcorn in the red zone at the Southern 13.
The Braves capped the se-ries with a 13-yard touch-down run by Waller to the right to tie it at 7 with 8:35 left.
The Braves started their second series at their own 17 when Waller took the carry, darted through the middle and was gone down the right side for a touchdown on the first play for a 14-7 Alcorn edge with 6:03 remaining in the first.
Late in the first quarter, the Jaguars countered. A 23-yard run by Devon Benn moved it to the Alcorn 26, and Southern even the score at 14 on a 22-yard pass to Smith with 2:43 re-maining.
Alcorn took the lead late in the first half.
The Braves got the ball back at their own 35 with 1:50 remaining and started a drive with a reverse to Blair, who ran it to the 47 for a gain of 12.
After two short rushes by Waller, Johnson kept it on a quarterback-option to the left and took it to the house for a 44-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds left and a 21-14 Alcorn lead.
While Alcorn went three-and-out on its first series of the second half, the Braves got the ball back after Morrison cut off an intended receiver for an interception on a deep pass and ran it to the Southern 25.
Johnson’s helmet came off on first down, and sophomore Felix Harper completed a pass to Anderson for 13 yards and a first down. The Braves punched it in on a one-yard run by Johnson as he jumped high and stretched the ball across the line. The extra point was blocked, but Alcorn was on top 27-14 with 11:12 remaining.
Southern answered with a six-play, 73-yard drive for a touchdown. The big play was a deep pass from Skelton to Hunter Register for 42 yards.
The scoring play was a one-yard run by Skelton, which cut the deficit to 27-21 at the 8:46 mark.
After a punt, the Jaguars were on the move again after a pass was completed to Kendall Catalon for 17 yards to the Alcorn 38.
On 3rd-and-10, Skelton nearly got sacked but escaped the pocket and scampered for 19 yards to the Alcorn 19. The Jaguars took the lead 28-27 on a four-yard run by Skelton with 3:56 left.
The Braves had the ball to start the fourth quarter and handed it to Waller for a gain of 24 to the Alcorn 39. The Braves kept moving in the right direction after a defensive pass interference call. A rush of 15 yards by Johnson moved it to the Southern 29.
After a bad snap resulted in 3rd-and-long, McCullough kicked a 41-yard field goal for the Braves to go back on top 30-28 with 11:31 remaining.
On their next drive, the Braves kept it on the ground to begin the series and moved the chains on a rush by Johnson to the Alcorn 46.
A second third-down con-version was made on a screen to Harris to the Southern 42.
Johnson kept it on a 25-yard rush to spot the ball at the Southern 14. A 14-yard touchdown run by Waller through the middle capped the drive and gave the Braves a 37-28 advantage with 3:47 left.
Morgan City High alum and Alcorn State redshirt junior Kevon Marsh received playing time Saturday.
Up next, the Braves will play for the HBCU Champi-onship when they take on North Carolina A&T from the MEAC in the 2018 Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. in Atlanta.

A 57-year-old woman pleaded guilty last week to a battery charge in connection with the February 2017 stabbing of another woman in Patterson. The injured victim had allegedly been stabbed about 10 times.

Pamela Denise Jones of Patterson pleaded guilty Nov. 26 to an amended charge of second-degree battery in 16th Judicial District Court. The district attorney had originally charged Jones with aggravated second-degree battery in the case, according to St. Mary Parish Clerk of Court records. She was initially arrested on a charge of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing.

Judge Anthony Thibodeaux sentenced Jones to serve five years hard labor in prison. However, he suspended all but one year of the prison term and placed Jones on four years of supervised probation with credit given for time served since her arrest Feb. 25, 2017. Thibodeaux also ordered Jones to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family, court records stated.

On Feb. 24, 2017, Patterson police responded to a report of a fight in progress in the area of Gina Drive. Upon arrival, the victim had already been taken to the hospital for treatment, while the suspect had fled the scene, then-Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle said shortly after the incident.

Police located and detained Jones and also spoke with the victim. Investigators learned that the victim was stabbed about 10 times and had "large lacerations to the face," LaSalle said. Police discovered that Jones had produced a knife during an argument and attacked another woman, LaSalle said. The victim was taken to Teche Regional Medical Center.