Alcorn State vs. North Carolina A&T: Score, Reaction for 2015 Celebration Bowl

The inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl was an explosive back-and-forth affair, and a 73-yard touchdown run from Tarik Cohen with just over four minutes remaining helped North Carolina A&T prevail 41-34 win over Alcorn State on Saturday afternoon at the Georgia Dome. 

Alcorn State trailed by 14 points in the third quarter, but the Braves played ball-control offense and came up with a timely stop on defense to pull even at 27-27 just minutes into the fourth. 

However, the Aggies responded with an efficient six-play, 81-yard drive to jump back ahead by a score before Alcorn State drove down and converted a fake field goal to knot things again at 34.  

At that point, it was up to Cohen to seal things.   

Had you not watched either team before, it would have been hard to know Alcorn State and North Carolina A&T wielded two of the three stingiest defenses in the FCS, according to ESPN's Sam Khan Jr. 

Cohen ran roughshod over the Braves defense to the tune of 22 carries for a school-record 295 yards and three scores, while Kwashaun Quick led North Carolina A&T with 149 passing yards. 

Early on, the Celebration Bowl was a special teams bash of the highest caliber. Not only did Khris Gardin open the scoring with a 74-yard record-breaking punt return, per ESPN College Football on Twitter, but the Braves responded with an 84-yard punt return score of their own thanks to the shifty moves of Anthony Williams Jr.:

"

That's how you enter record books! Khris Gardin's TD return gives him FCS single-season record for punt return yds. https://t.co/QyFnUSeHqc

— ESPN CollegeFootball (@ESPNCFB) December 19, 2015"

The big plays didn't stop there, though. 

Cohen answered a few plays later with a cutback-laden 74-yard touchdown run to give North Carolina A&T a 14-6 lead before he ripped off an 83-yard touchdown scamper on the first play of the Aggies' next possession. 

ESPN College Football summed things up with a snapshot of everyone's favorite fan: 

Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman was among those impressed with Cohen's first-quarter outburst:

Alcorn State counter-punched with an interception and 10-yard Arron Baker receiving touchdown to cut the deficit to 11, which it desperately needed during a half that was largely dominated by the Aggies.

The Braves possessed the ball for just 11 minutes and 40 seconds and were outgained 286-66 over the first two quarters, but their ability to draw even in the turnover battle toward the end of the half helped jump-start a second-half surge. 

After both conferences opted to send their champions to the Celebration Bowl in lieu of participating in the FCS playoffs, it's safe to say the SWAC and the MEAC made solid decisions. Saturday's affair was thrilling from start to finish with big plays galore, and it also afforded Cohen a chance to break out on a national stage.  

As far as debuts go, the Celebration Bowl couldn't have asked for much more.  

Postgame Reaction

North Carolina A&T head coach Rod Broadway was asked after the game if his team deserves to win the HBCU National Championship, and he came out with a strong answer, per HBCU Gameday:

MEAC commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas said the inaugural game was an all-around win, per the Celebration Bowl's Twitter account:

If this year's game was a preview of what's to come down the road it's going to be a great way to start each bowl season.