Box Score / Photo Gallery
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alabama A&M's SWAC championship hopes fizzled Saturday at cold and rainy Legion Field as Prairie View A&M scored a 30-24 victory over the Bulldogs in a title matchup that featured seven lead changes. despite having two 100-yard rushers in the game and outgaining the Panters 403-375, Alabama A&M's desperation throw to the end zone on the game's final play was knocked down by Panther defenders to end the game. The Bulldogs rushed for a SCG record 249 yards on the day.
Prairie View opened the scoring taking the opening kickoff and marching toward a 39-yard Brady Faggard field goal with 10:29 to play in the first half. Alabama A&M answered with a seven-play, 63-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Ulysses Banks. Banks finished the day and his Bulldog career with 109 yards on 20 carries and the one score.
Alabama A&M held the 7-3 lead until the 6:46 mark of the second quarter when KJ Black found Michael Benson behind the Bulldog defense in the end zone for a 21-yard score. Again, however, the Bulldogs had an immediate answer. Deaunte Mason hit Quintin Carlock for a nine-yard score to give A&M a 10-7 lead with 2:44 to play in the half. The Bulldogs would carry that lead into the locker room.
Donald Baber put the Panthers back on top with the only score of the third quarter, a one-yard run that capped a 10-play drive. Yet again, Alabama A&M responded. Mason's quarterback sneak on fourth down gave the Bulldogs a 21-17 lead with 13:30 remaining in the game. Mason finished with 110 yards rushing on the day.
Prairie View took the lead for good with 11:21 to play when Black found Gabe Osaze-Ediae across the middle on a 23-yard touchdown. Black, the game's MVP, threw for 258 yards and three scores. The third touchdown toss came with 7:01 to play after the Panther defense sacked Mason and forced a fumble turnover at midfield.
AAMU made one more push, and a Jeremy Licea 33-yard field goal made it a one-possession game withe 4:02 to play. The Bulldogs, however, were out of timeouts and PV nearly ran the clock out, but were forced to punt with time running out.
Thomas Harris nearly turned that punt into an historic finish as he shook two defenders and broke down the sideline with one Panther defender between Harris and the game-winning touchdown. A shoestring tackle left the Bulldogs with one play, the desperation toss that ended the game.
