Box Score MOBILE, Ala. – Taking on rival No. 5/9 Jackson State (10-0, 7-0 SWAC) in the Gulf Coast Challenge, Alabama A&M (3-7, 3-4 SWAC) could not overcome a pair of late first half touchdowns as they fell by a 27-13 score in an NCAA Division I football game on Saturday, November 12.
NOTE
Due to severe technical issues with the scoring, full and complete statistics are not available at this time.
THE STATS - ALABAMA A&M
Full Accurate Statistics Unavailable (Significant On-Site Technical Difficulties)
THE GAME
Neither team would be able to gain any traction early on but it would be the Bulldogs that would break through first as sophomore kicker Victor Barbosa (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) converted a 30-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead midway through the first.
JSU would then come right back with a four-play, 44-yard drive ending in a 20-yard touchdown grab by Travis Hunter to go up 7-3. A&M would answer with their preferred method this season – the ground and pound. On their next drive they would run the ball on six of the eight plays, capping a 58-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge by Eaglin to go up 10-7 with 2:55 on the clock.
The teams would struggle over their next several possessions until the Tigers got their offense going with four minutes to play in the half. Starting at the A&M 33-yard line after a short punt, JSU would see Shedeur Sanders connect with D.J. Stevens from 19 yards out to extend to a 21-10 lead at the 3:06 mark to pull back ahead, this time 14-10.
JSU would then get the ball right back as Aubrey Miller, Jr. forced a fumble and set the offense right back up. The Tigers then continued to get the offense going as they mounted another scoring drive off that turnover. It would take just six plays to go 58 yards, the bulk of that coming on a 35-yard touchdown strike from Sanders to Shane Hooks to push to a 21-10 lead with 13 seconds remaining. The clubs would then take that margin to the break.
The first possession of the third would see Jackson extend the lead again as they delivered a 10-play, 69-yard drive. That would feature a 30-yard grab by Hooks and a 21-yard TD catch from Willie Gaines to make it 27-10.
The Bulldogs would go on to add a field goal by Barbosa in the fourth to make it a two-score game and would immediately have the opportunity to cut that even closer. On the ensuing kickoff the Tigers would flub the catch and the ball bounced right into the waiting arms of senior linebacker Dre Terry (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.), who scooped it up on the hop.
They would not be able to take advantage, however, avoiding a near interception before eventually turning it over to give the ball back to JSU in the shadow of their own goal posts. However, neither the Tigers or Bulldogs would get anything else going the rest of the way as Jackson State closed out the 27-13 decision.
THE STATS – NO. 5/9 JACKSON STATE
Full Accurate Statistics Unavailable (Significant On-Site Technical Difficulties)
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M will close out the 2022 season when they return home for Senior Day against Texas Southern on Saturday, November 19. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Louis Crews Stadium.
