ORLANDO, FL – It wasn't quite the opening game Head Coach James Spady and the Bulldogs faithful were hoping for Sunday.
The Bulldogs scored first early and trailed just 7-6 late in the first quarter before North Carolina A&T responded with 31 unanswered points en route to a 47-13 win over Alabama A&M in the 10^th annual MEAC-SWAC Challenge presented by Disney at Bright House Networks Stadium.
After rushing for 21 yards on their second drive, the Bulldogs took to the air and Challenge MVP Jaymason Lee connected with O'Darius Williams for a 32-yard gain. They were able to push deep into the Aggies redzone but couldn't punch it through and converted a 20-yard field goal from Cesar Diaz-Ramon to take the 3-0 lead.
The Aggies responded with a 26-yard touchdown run to take the lead less than a minute later. After an exchange of turnovers, the Bulldogs reached the Aggies' 10 yard-line but again called on Diaz-Ramon who kicked a 27-yard field goals to cut the A&T lead to 7-6 with iust 16 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
However, North Carolina A&T's Cody Jones took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards in 15 seconds to extend the Aggies lead before the end of the first quarter. The Aggies then scored four more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 38-6 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs defense stiffened in the second half, holding A&T to 9 points but the offense couldn't muster any points in the third quarter.
But they started a 47-yard drive to start the fourth quarter that was capped when Brandon Wells found Jonathan Dorsey wide open in the endzone for a 5-yard TD.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday in a 1 p.m. matchup at Tuskegee.
They open at home Oct. 4 for Homecoming weekend and the fifth annual Louis Crews Classic against SWAC rival Grambling State at 2 p.m.