Oct. 19, 2005
Final Stats
Nashville, Tenn. -
The final score won't give justice to how exciting this game was - right down to the final play of the game. Alabama A&M used a big-play defense and an opportunistic and efficient offense Saturday to defeat Tennessee State 27-14 in the 7th annual John Merritt Classic in Nashville's Coliseum.
With A&M leading 21-14 and :05 remaining on the clock, TSU had one last chance from the Bulldog 26-yard-line to tie the game. Instead, A&M's Antonio Nelson returned an interception 100 yards to make the final a 13-point season-opening victory for the maroon and white. It was the first opening game victory for AAMU is five years. It was also the first loss in the seven-year history of the Classic for TSU.
Both offenses slopped their way through a penalty-ridden first half, with TSU holding a 7-3 lead at the intermission. TSU's Fred Burnette hauled in a 13-yard strike from Bryson Rosser just before the end of the first quarter to give the Tigers the early lead. The score complete a seven-play, 49-yard drive that took 4:50.
Alabama A&M turned the first of three TSU turnovers into points with 2:30 to play in the half when
Jose Osorio connected on a career-long 43-yard field goal to cut the TSU lead to 7-3. The scoring opportunity was set up by Fred Solomon, who recovered an unforced fumble in the Tennessee State backfield. Neither team would threaten the remainder of the half.
The second half proved much more effective for the A&M offense as quarterbacks Kelcy Luke and Harold Dorman each led the team on scoring drives. Luke's came following the second-half kick and proved to be the most sustained effort by either offensive unit on the evening. The Bulldogs drove 49 yards in 13 plays, consuming the first 6:42 of the third quarter, and cut the lead to one on another Osorio kick - this time from 37 yards. Dorman's game-winning drive would come in the fourth quarter.
On the first play following Osorio's second three-pointer, A&M linebacker Walter Herron dropped into coverage and converted the game's most important play, one that would earn him Defensive MVP honors. His interception and 12-yard return set up the Bulldog offense inside the TSU five-yard-line. Three plays later Luke found tight end John Smith for the go-ahead score - AAMU 13, TSU 7.
Fueled by two 15-yard A&M penalties on third down, TSU struck back and took back the lead before the beginning of the fourth quarter. Javarr Williams capped the drive with an eight-yard scamper over right tackle to give the Tigers a 14-13 edge.
Dorman and the offense would control the first half of the final stanza. The backup quarterback, playing in his first collegiate game, would lead the Bulldogs on an 11-play, 60-yard drive that took 5:29 that would produce a lead that would never be relinquished. Dorman, who was named the game's offensive MVP with nine carries for 53 yards and 5-7 passing for 41 yards, finished the drive with a four-yard score. The successful two point conversion, an acrobatic throw and catch by a rushed Dorman and a covered Tedric Milton, gave A&M a 21-14 advantage with 8:31 to play.
Tennessee State mounted a furious effort to tie the game, pushing inside the A&M 10-yard line on a 14-play drive. The Bulldog defense held and turned the ball back to the offense on downs with 1:50 remaining in the contest.
TSU would have one final opportunity, which ended on Nelson's game-ending return for score.
Offensively, the two teams struggled with early-season mistakes costing each valuable yardage. The two teams combined for only 459 total yards (AAMU 233, TSU 226).
Following Dorman's ground effort was Ta'mar Scott's 12 carries for 48 yards as the Bulldogs churned out 148 yards on the ground in 37 chances. Luke completed six of 15 for 44 yards and the score to Smith. He did throw an early interception, A&M's only turnover on the night. Tim Robinson led the receiving corps with three catches for 28 yards. Osorio, also the team's punter, averaged 37.6 yards per kick and pinned the Tigers inside their 20 once.
Tennessee State rushed for only 72 yards on a A&M defense that picked up right where it left off as the top unit in the SWAC from 2004.
