Alabama A&M Clinches East Tie;
Grambling State Survives Scare
November 17, 2002
AROUND THE SWAC – Alabama A&M assured
themselves of no less than a tie for the SWAC East Division title
with a 27-20 come-from-behind win over Alcorn State. Jackson State
kept their East title and SCG berth drive alive with a 44-9 win
over Prairie View A&M. Mississippi Valley State surprised
Alabama State with a 13-10 in two overtimes and Southern held
on to beat Texas Southern 27-25.
In non-conference action, Grambling State had to scored 34 fourth
quarter points to put away a pesky Morris Brown squad 64-36 and
Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell 40-37 to Lane College.
Alabama A&M – 27, Alcorn State –20, at
Huntsville, AL ( Att: 3,446)
The Bulldogs of Alabama A&M clinched a tie for the SWAC East
title, battling back from a 20-12 deficit to beat Alcorn State
27-20.
In cold windy conditions, AAMU broke on top 12-0 with early touchdowns
in the first quarter (12:13) and second quarter (11:47) before
Alcorn State got on the board before the half (4:28) for a 12-7
score at the intermission.
After Alabama A&M fumbled the second half kickoff, the Braves
went up 13-12 (14:32) on a 34-pass by QB Donald Carrie to Kris
Peters. On the next series of plays, Alcorn State returned a 50-yd
interception for a TD to take a 20-12 lead (12:10). The Bulldogs
the managed to drive the football 65 yards in six plays to tie
the score at 20-20 at the 10:15 mark of the third period.
Early in the fourth quarter (14:51), Alcorn State intercepted
the Bulldogs again, but the AAMU defense forced a punt and the
Bulldog offense mounted another drive (38 yds) to score the winning
TD with 10:39 left in the game.
Alabama A&M’s offense generated 356 yds in Total Offense
(189 rush, 167 pass), while Alcorn State managed just 63 yds rushing
generating 221 yds of Total Offense (158 pass, 63 rush).
Offensively, the leaders for Alabama A&M were QB Johnny Keith
who passed for 138 yds and RB Melvin Gideon (54 yds rushing).
For Alcorn State, QB Donald Carrie passed for 158 yds and 2 TDs
and WR Kris Peters caught 4 passes for 103 yds and 1 TD.
On the defensive side, Alcorn State’s Dwan Wilson had 10
tackles (6 solo) and 1 interception for a 50 yd TD. Demond Wilson
also had 10 tackles (6 solo). Alabama A&M’s top tacklers
were Martel Holt and Jamaal Ware with 6 tackles each. As a team,
AAMU had five sacks for 31 yds in losses.
Jackson State – 44, Prairie View A&M –
9, at Jackson, MS (Att. 1,430)
Jackson State wasted no time jumping on top of Prairie View A&M
14-0 in the first quarter and 16-0 in the second quarter (6:30)
after recording a safety. The Panthers engineered a 25 yd FG late
in the second quarter (1:34) but JSU countered with another TD
at 1:05 to close the scoring at 23-3 at the intermission.
The Tigers controlled the third quarter, scoring three TDs for
a 44-3 lead after the third period and PVAM drove for the game’s
final TD early in the fourth quarter (14:04).
Jackson State generated 605 yds of Total Offense (325 pass, 280
rush), while Prairie View posted 180 yds of offense (112 pass,
68 rush). The top offensive performance of the day came from Jackson
State QB Robert Kent, who passed for 288 yds (20-30-1) and five
TDs. RB Tarnaka Counslor rushed for 93 yds and 1 TD.
Defensively, the top performance was turned in by PVAM’s
LB Charles Lamb with eight tackles (7 solo). Jackson State LB
Elgin Andrews had six tackles (5 solo) with 1 TFL (1) and 1 pass
defended.
Grambling State – 64, Alabama State – 36,
at Atlanta, GA (Att. 8,653)
For three quarters, the Wolverines of Morris Brown played inspired
football and matched Grambling State score-for-score.
With 13:32 left in the contest, Grambling State was leading by
just 37-36. In the game’s final 13:00, Grambling State scored
four TDs with drive times of 2:33, 0:13, 0:29 and 0:41 to blow
the game open. QB Bruce Eugene passed for 465 yds (21-41-2) and
five TDs, along with rushing eight times for 66 yds and two TDs,
generating 531 yds of offense and 7 TDs.
Eugene hit seven different receivers enroute to breaking GSU
coach Doug Williams’ single season passing record (3,286).
Bruce has thrown for 3,751 yds this season, with two games remaining.
WR Tramon Douglas’ six receptions for 133 yds and 1 TD set
a new GSU record for receptions in a season (74). WR Calvin Colquitt
had four receptions for 127 yds with 1 TD.
Offensively, Grambling State gained 745 yds in Total Offense
(465 pass, 280 rush), but gave up 395 yds of offense (188 pass,
207 rush) to Morris Brown.
Defensively, Grambling State LB Ronald Johnson led all tacklers
with 11 tackles (6 solo) with 1.5 TFLs (8) and 1 pass breakup.
Southern – 27, Texas Southern – 25, at Baton
Rouge, LA (Att. 15, 963)
This week, Southern started fast but had to hold on for a win
against West division rival Texas Southern.
The Jaguars got out to a 10-0 first quarter lead, but Texas Southern
chipped back in the second quarter with two FGs to close within
10-6 at 6:45 of the first half. Southern moved out 17-6 on another
TD midway through the period (4:46), but Texas Southern moved
ahead after a 69-yd drive for a TD (3:38) and a fumble recovery
for a TD (2:03) and an 18-17 halftime lead.
Southern regained the lead, 20-18, in the third quarter on a
32 yd FG (10:26) and moved ahead 27-18 in the fourth quarter (4:37)
on a 26-yd pass. Late in the quarter (0:58) Texas Southern scored
a TD after a 73 yd, 11-play drive to close the score to 27-25.
An onside kick attempt was not successful and Southern held on
the win the contest.
Offensively, Southern gained 287 yds of offense (195 pass, 92
rush) and Texas Southern gained 193 yds of offense (142 pass,
51 rush). Southern QB Quincy Richard passed for 144 yds and 2
TDs, while RB Kenneth Peoples rushed for 101 yds. Texas Southern
QB Gerred Lunnon passed for 142 yds and two TDs and WR Cortez
Hankton had six receptions for 89 yds and 2 TDs.
Defensively, Texas Southern’s LB Lernard Mack had 12 tackles
(5 solo), 6 TFLs (46), 3.5 sacks (36) and 2 forced fumbles. Southern’s
DB Chris Cooper had 11 tackles (6 solo), 4 TFLs (12), 1 sack (8),
1 forced fumble and 1 pass defended.
Lane College – 40, Ark-Pine Bluff – 37, at
Pine Bluff, AR (Att: 2,880)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff fell behind early, 14-0 in the first quarter
and 28-10 at halftime. The Golden Lions took control of the second
half, outscoring their opponents 27-12, but it too little, too
late to salvage the win.
Offensively, UAPB gained 477 yds of Total Offense (362 pass,
115 rush) but gave up 402 yds of Total Offense (216 pass, 186
rush) to Lane College.
Ark.-Pine Bluff QB LaKendrick Powell passed for a career high
362 yds (23-42-0) with 4 TDs and rushed for 20 yds and 1 TD. WR
Phillip Doolin had 9 receptions for 202 yds and 1 TD and 5 kickoff
returns for 140 yds with a long of 34 yds. RB Calvin Thomas added
92 yds rushing.
Defensively, four UAPB players had six tackles each. DE Taylor
Harris had 6 solos with 1 sack (3); LB Michael Willis had 5 solos
with 1 sack (2); DB had 4 solos and LB Ezekiel had 3 solos.
Mississippi Valley State – 13, Alabama State –
10, 2 OT at Montgomery, AL (Att: N/A)
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