Alabama A&M Defense Keys MCC Win
Grambling State's QB Rambles
October 27, 2002
AROUND THE SWAC - The Eastern
Division race was got hotter this weekend with
Alabama A&M keeping their Division record perfect
(4-0) with a 23-20 win over rival Alabama State
in the Magic City Classic. Grambling State dominated
Jackson State 52-31 to hand JSU their second East
Division loss while keeping their Western Division
record perfect (4-0). Other Western Division games
saw Southern keep pace in the West with a 46-24
win over Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern rebounded
for a 34-21 win over Mississippi Valley to remained
tied for second in the West.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-4) out of the West race and Alcorn State
with a 3-1 East record were idle this week.
Grambling State - 52, Jackson State -
31 at Grambling, LA (Att. 9,462)
Grambling State QB Bruce Eugene started slowly, completing only 1 of his
first 13 passes for 10 yds. But after he settled down he lead the G-men to a
dominating performance over Jackson State. The win gives Grambling State a
perfect Western Division record (4-0), while the loss gives Jackson State a
2-2 Eastern Division record and drops them into third place in the East
race.
Grambling built a 31-0 lead through the second quarter, but Jackson State
drove for a TD late in the first half for a 31-7 halftime score. Jackson
State held Grambling scoreless in the third quarter and scored on a 50-yd TD
pass to post a 31-13 score after the third quarter. Both teams traded TDs
(3) in the fourth quarter with Grambling successfully kicking their PATs and
Jackson State missing the 2-pt PAT attempts for the final score of 52-31.
On the game for Grambling, QB Bruce Eugene passed for 373 yds (25-51-1) and
4 TDs, while rushing for a game high of 135 yds (18 atts) and 3 TDs to
generate 508 yds of total offense and 42 points. Along the way he set new
GSU records for performance as a sophomore; most passing yards (now at
2,346) and TDs thrown (now at 26). Grambling WR Tramon Douglas caught 10
passes for 179 yds and 3 TDs, with Thyron Anderson snaring 7 passes for 117
yds and 1 TD. Defensively, LB Terry Cooper led the G-Men with 8 tackles (7
solo) with 2 TFLs (16), 1 sack (7) and 1 QB hurry. DB Denmark Reed had two
interceptions for 20 yds in returns. Both picks led to TDs for Grambling.
Jackson State QB Robert Kent passed for 402 yds (26-50) and 5 TDs, but was
intercepted 3 times. Freshman WR Torrey Ross broke through for a career day
catching 11 passes for 177 yds and 2 TDs, including a 55 yd TD strike. Chris
Jones caught 5 passes for 101 yds and 1 TD. On the defensive side for
Jackson State, LB Elgin Andrews led all tacklers with 15 tackles (9 solo).
As a team, Grambling State rolled up 568 yd in Total Offense (373 pass, 195
rush) while Jackson State generated 471 yds of Total Offense (402 pass, 69
rush).
Note: GSU's Eugene had 508 of Grambling's 568
yds>. Jackson State had 5 turnovers (3 intc, 2
fumb) and Grambling had two turnovers (1 intc,
1 fumb). Grambling converted 3 turnovers (2 intc,
1 fumb) into 17 points and Jackson State converted
1 turnover (intc) into a TD.
Texas Southern - 34, Mississippi Valley State - 21
at Houston, TX
- NO REPORT -
Alabama A&M - 23, Alabama State - 20, at Birmingham, AL (Att.
53,261)
Alabama A&M extended their win-streak to six games with a come-from-behind
win over rival Alabama State in the 61st Magic City Classic. The win, keeps
the Bulldogs in the lead of the Eastern Division with a 4-0 mark and
severely dampens the Hornets quest to win the East crown.
AAMU got on the scoreboard first, but missed their PAT for a 6-0 lead
(10:54). Alabama State scored later in the first quarter (1:14) for a 7-6
lead. In the second quarter, the Hornets scored early (13:11) for a 14-6
lead, and the Bulldogs scored late (0:26) but missed the PAT for a 14-12
halftime score. AAMU pushed ahead, 15-14 on a 33 yd FG in the third quarter
(9:39), but ASU scored a TD for a 20-15 lead with 7:49 left in the third
quarter. In the decisive fourth quarter, Alabama State fumbled on their
first two possessions and Alabama A&M scored their winning TD for a 23-20
lead (2:48) after a fumbled pass reception was recovered by Henry Freeman at
the ASU 4-yd line. On their final possession of the game the Hornets were
intercepted and the Bulldogs ran out the clock for the win.
Alabama State QB Jermaine Crenshaw passed for 236 yds (19-42) and 2 TDs, but
suffered four interceptions. WR Machion Sanders caught 6 passes for 85 yds
and 1 TD. The top offensive performer for Alabama A&M was QB Tim Robinson
who threw for 111 yds (10-16-1) and 1 TD.
Defensively, the Bulldogs DE Jamaal Ware led all tackles with 11 tackles (4
solo) and 1 FF. Henry Freeman and Robert Mathis finished with 9 tackles
each. Mathis had 2.5 TFLs (7) with 1 sack (5), 1 FF and 1 PD. Freeman had 8
solos, 1.5 TFLs (4), 2 intc (26), 2 PDs, 1 FF and 1 fumble recovery. For the
Hornets, Marcus Winn had 10 tackles (3 solo) 3 TFLs (17) and 1 sack (12). DB
Antwan Hill picked off two interceptions, giving him 10 for the season.
Southern - 46, Prairie View A&M - 24, at Houston, TX
(Att. 20,002)
Southern found their offense and kept their Western Division hopes alive
with a 46-24 victory over Prairie View A&M in Reliant Stadium.
The Panthers jumped out to a 7-0 lead (13:00),
but Southern controlled the rest of the first
quarter scoring 3 TDs on drives of 77, 36 and
55 yds for a 20-7 lead after the first stanza.
PVAM managed a 24 yd FG early in the second period
for a 20-10 score, but the Jaguars answered with
two more TDs in the second quarter for a 34-10
halftime score. Southern did the only scoring
in the third quarter (40-10). PVAM drove 75 yds
in 9 plays to score a TD opening the fourth quarter
(13:46), followed by SU's 87 yd drive for TD (6:31)
to push the score to 46-16. The Panthers closed
out the scoring (1:37) with a 70 yd run for TD
and the final score of 46-24.
Southern generated 512 yds of Total Offense (364 pass, 148 rush) utilizing
two QBs in Anthony Fisher (192 passing) and Quincy Richard (112 passing). RB
Kenneth Peoples rushed for 100 yds on 19 carries. Top offensive performer
for PVAM was RB Otis Carter who rushed for 70 yds on 3 carries and 1 TD.
The game's top defensive performer was PVAM's
Ronnie Nunn who finished with 12 tackles (4 solo)
with 1 TFL (11), 1 sack (11) and a FF. Southern's
Chris Cooper and Herman Hartman had 9 tackles
each. Hartman logged 1 TFL (10) and 1 sack (10)
while Cooper had 1.5 TFLs and 1 FF.
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