Alabama A & M Athletics

Box Score / PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Trailing 33-7 midway through the third quarter, Alabama A&M rallied with 20 straight points to close to within 33-27, but the Bulldogs would come up just short as Prairie View A&M held on for an important Southwestern Athletic Conference victory Saturday. Despite the loss which dropped the Bulldogs to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the SWAC, A&M remains alive for a possible berth in the SWAC Championship Game.

It took the Panthers just 1:30 and five plays to score the game's first touchdown, a 21-yard pass from KJ Black to Gabe Osaze-Ediae, but the Bulldogs would battle back.

Ulysses Banks broke through the line for a 42-yard touchdown run with 5:48 to play in the first half to tie the game 7-7. Banks finished the day with 81 yards on 15 carries, plus three receptions for 37 yards. PV would score the game's next 26 points to lead 33-7 with 8:56 to play in the third quarter.

A pair of Deaunte Mason touchdown runs closed the lead to 33-20 with 9:19 to play in the game.  Mason, making his second career start at quarterback, threw 16-34 for 170 yards and a pair of interceptions.  He also ran for 95 yards on 12 carries.

Late in the game, however, Mason had to leave the game with cramping in his legs.  Kevin Atkins entered the game and found Rashad Johnson on a five-yard touchdown pass with just under a mintue to play.

The onside kick was recovered by the Panthers, and they ran out the clock from there.

The Bulldogs can still get to the SWAC Championship Game in Birmingham on Dec. 12, but will need to take care of business against Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State, and then get some help.  Alcorn State will have to lose at least one more game for A&M to qualify for the championship game.