SWAC Championship Game Match-Up Set;
Grambling State vs. Alabama A&M
November 24, 2002
AROUND THE SWAC – Alabama A&M put themselves
into the SWAC Championship Game (SCG) winning the SWAC East Division
with a 39-19 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Jackson State ended
their season, second in the East with a 34-20 win over Alcorn
State
In non-conference action, Alabama State capitalized on six turnovers
to defeat Savannah State 28-13.
Alabama A&M – 39, Ark.-Pine Bluff –19,
at Pine Bluff, AR ( Att: 2,233)
Alabama A&M took matters in their own hands capturing the
SWAC East title with a 39-19 victory over Ark.-Pine Bluff. Along
the way, the Bulldogs’ DE Robert Mathis set a new NCAA 1-AA
single season sack record (20) with a three-sack performance in
the game.
The Golden Lions got on the board in the first quarter (7:22)
after they turned an AAMU interception into a TD, but the Bulldogs
blocked the PAT and returned it for points and a 6-2 ballgame
at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, UAPB struck
for a long 87 yd TD pass for a 12-2 lead with 10:17 remaining
in the half. AAMU scored 17 unanswered points the remainder of
the half to hold a 19-12 lead at intermission.
Mid-way through the third quarter (7:05), the Bulldogs drove
66 yds for a TD and a 26-12 lead. The Golden Lions capped off
an 80 yd TD drive early in the fourth quarter (14:51) to close
the score to 26-19, but the Bulldogs controlled the rest of the
game putting up two more TDs for the final twenty-point margin
of victory.
Alabama A&M’s offense generated a season-high 443 yds
in Total Offense (264 rush, 179 pass). Ark.-Pine Bluff had minus
18 yds rushing, generating 307 yds of Total Offense (325 pass,
-18 rush).
Offensively, the leaders for Alabama A&M were RB Jeremiah
Bonds who rushed for 107 yds and 2 TDs. WR Nicholas Wells caught
4 passes for 91 yds, returned 4 punts for 79 yds and 1 kickoff
for 22 yds. For Ark.-Pine Bluff, WR Phillip Doolin had 133 yds
and 1 TD on 3 receptions. The Golden Lions top passer was John
Pierce with 149 yds (8-21) as starter LaKendrick Powell managed
only 89 yds passing while being sacked six times (76) by the Bulldogs’
defense.
On the defensive side, Alabama A&M’s top tackler was
Jamaal Ware with 10 tackles (4 solo), 2 TFLs (10), 1 sack (5)
and 1 QB hurry. Travorris Nunn had 7 tackles (3 solo) with 2 TFLs.
DE Robert Mathis finished the game with 6 tackles (6 solo) and
3 sacks (24) to establish and new NCAA 1-AA single season sack
record at 20. As a team, AAMU had eight sacks for 92 yds in losses.
Jackson State – 34, Alcorn State – 20, at Jackson,
MS (Att. 45,292)
Jackson State downed intra-state rival Alcorn State 34-20 to finish
second in the SWAC’s East Division. With the loss, Alcorn
State finishes the season tied for third in the division.
Jackson State drove 68 yds for a TD on their first possession
and a 6-0 lead (10:48), but Alcorn State fought back to tie the
score at 6-6 late in the quarter (0:43). The Tigers controlled
the scoring in the second quarter, posting three TDs during the
first 9:07 of the period for a 27-6 lead. Alcorn State managed
an 80-yd, 8 play drive for a TD with 2:37 remaining in the half
for a 27-13 score at halftime.
There was no scoring in the third quarter, but Alcorn State tightened
the score to 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter (6:49). Jackson
State responded with a 70-yd 7 play TD drive (4:27) to gain their
final margin of 34-20.
Offensively, Jackson State QB Robert Kent passed for 362 yds
(20-35-1) and 5 TDs. WR Tim Manning had six receptions for 121
yds and 1 TD. RB Tarnaka Counslor rushed for 111 yds on 27 carries.
Alcorn State QB Donald Carrie passed for 289 yds (22-43-3) and
2 TDs, while WR Kris Peters had 124 yds and 1 TD on 8 receotions.
On the defensive side, Jackson State LB Elgin Andrews led all
tacklers with 12 tackles (8 solo), 2 TFLs (10) and 1 sack (8).
Alcorn State’s LB Omega Logan and DB Tim Batts had 11 tackles
each. Logan finished with 11 solos, 1 TFL (3) and 1 fumble recovery
while Batts had 8 solos, 2 TFLs (12), 1 sack (2) ,1 FF and 1 PD.
Alabama State – 28, Savannah State – 13,
at Savannah, GA (Att. 1,087)
Alabama State capitalized on six Savannah State turnovers to claim
a 28-13 win.
Savannah State lost a fumble on their first possession and three
plays later Alabama State converted it into a TD for a 7-0 lead
(13:12) and the only scoring of the first half.
The Hornets took the opening kickoff of the second half in for
their second TD of the game for a 14-0 lead (12:23). Savannah
State scored a TD midway through the quarter (6:42) to close the
score to 14-7, but Alabama State scored a TD on a fumble recovery
in the end zone late in the quarter (1:21) for a 21-7 lead at
the end of the quarter.
Alabama State’s final score came midway through the fourth
quarter (6:15) on a 30 yd TD interception return by DB Erlin Sanders.
Savannah State managed their final TD late in the game (1:14)
after a 78 yd drive. The Hornets were able to run out the clock
for the win.
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