HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Battling the challenges that come with a short week, Alabama A&M (3-5, 3-2 SWAC) will reap the benefits as their game at Mississippi Valley State (0-8, 0-5 SWAC) will be broadcast worldwide on ESPNU as the two teams get together under the lights on Thursday, November 3. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, Mississippi.
WHERE TO WATCH
If not making the sojourn to the metropolis of Itta Bena, make sure to catch all the action live on ESPNU and follow along on
live stats for all the play-by-play action. Fans can find full coverage following the game on
www.AAMUSports.com, the official online home of Alabama A&M Athletics.
ALABAMA A&M DROPS 24-17 THRILLER TO ALABAMA STATE IN 81ST MAGIC CITY CLASSIC
With Alabama State holding just 3-0 lead after one quarter A&M came to life in the second. Redshirt-sophomore quarterback Quincy Casey (Memphis, Tenn.) found senior wideout Isiah Cox for a two-yard touchdown five minutes into the frame and senior defensive tackle Jamal Irby (Mobile, Ala.) snagged a ball at ASU's six-yard line for a "Big Man Touchdown" to make it 14-3 with 9:50 left in the half.
That would end up closing the scoring until the Hornets' Kisean Johnson scored from nine yards out on a pass from Dematrius Davis at the 4:51 mark of the third. The fourth would be a back-and-forth affair as Jacory Merritt ran one in for ASU a little over a minute into the period to take back the lead at 17-14.
A 37-yard field goal knotted it up with just over six minutes to play but Davis would lead a drive that ended with the ball in Jeremiah Hixon's hands from 23-yards out for the go-ahead score with exactly two minutes remaining. The Bulldogs would rally down to the five yard line of Alabama State but simply ran out of time as the horn sounded on the 24-17 decision.
Individually, Casey went 16-of-21 on the day for 217 yards and a touchdown while senior wide out Cameron Young (Daphne, Ala.) finished with four grabs for 87 yards. Defensively, junior defensive end Zareon Hayes (Dillon, S.C.) was a one-man wrecking crew with eight tackles, 4.5 of them for loss as he also picked up a half sack in the process.
ABOUT THE GAME
The Bulldogs make their only trip to the State of Mississippi this season when they head to 10,000-seat Rice-Totten Stadium on Thursday, November 3.
It is also the final of just two true SWAC road games all season and the first trip back to Itta Bena since November 17, 2018. The teams were slated to play in Mississippi in 2020 and then in the rescheduled Spring 2021 campaign before that game was rescheduled to the end of the season and then eventually cancelled, completing the first undefeated regular season since 1966.
THURSDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
In the program's NCAA Division I history (since 1999), the Bulldogs have only played four Thursday Night games and have won three of the four. They opened this season at Alabama-Birmingham on September 1 and with the MVSU game getting shifted to an ESPNU game and moved up two days to accommodate that change, this is the first season that A&M has had more than one Thursday Night game on the docket.
Thursday Night History
September 1, 2022 – L, 59-0 at Alabama-Birmingham
September 16, 2021 - W, 30-27 at Bethune Cookman
October 13, 2011 - W, 24-21 vs. Texas Southern (Later Vacated)
October 18, 2007 - W, 31-14 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
THUNDER AND MO' THUNDER AND THE ULTIMATE BACKFIELD DISRUPTOR
Having transitioned from a lightning quick passing attack to a ground-and-pound that has them ranked No. 4 in the country in time of possession at 34:48, Alabama A&M tends to bruise and batter their opponents on their way to victories.
A large part of that effort (literally and figuratively) are 5-11, 226-pound Donovan Eaglin and 6-1, 250-pound Harold Jemison, Jr. as they have combined for more than 800 yards rushing on 161 carries. Eaglin has toted the rock 113 times for 594 yards and five touchdowns while Jemison has 218 yards on 48 carries, four that have ended with him in the endzone.
And the thunder isn't just on offense either as Appalachian State transfer Zareon Hayes (Dillon, S.C.) has been cracking offenses all season long. On the year the defensive end has racked up 41 tackles – 22 solo and a whopping 13.5 for loss. With the latter he is averaging 1.9 TFL per game, good for second in the country – up 11 spots following a 4.5 TFL performance against Alabama State. He trails only John Pius of William & Mary (2.0) and on top of that his 0.29 forced fumbles per game are 16
th.
RACKING UP THE HONORS (SEASON EDITION)
While more than half the roster is new the returnees are well known and have racked up the preseason recognition.
That started with three All-SWAC Preseason selections as senior running back Gary Quarles (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and senior wide receiver Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim (Miramar, Fla.) earned Second-Team while junior offensive lineman Carson Vinson (Cary, N.C.) was selected to the Second-Team.
Quarles and Ibrahim would add to the mantle with the latter picking up Stats Perform FCS Preseason Third-Team All-American honors while both he and the diminutive tailback were named to the BOXTOROW Preseason All-American Team.
Ibrahim is also now a 10-time All-American following his most recent honor, a Second-Team selection by Hero Sports and both he and Quarles have been named to the prestigious Deacon Jones Award Watch list representing the top player from a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).
In-season, sophomore running back Donovan Eaglin (Houston, Texas) cracked the seal on the awards with his SWAC and BOXTOROW National Player of the Week honors on Monday, October 3. Senior linebacker Dre Terry (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) then added to those honors, claiming SWAC Defensive Player of the Week on October 17, marking the first Bulldog to claim that honor since 2018.
MORE THAN 70-PERCENT OF A SEASON IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The Bulldogs are a popular choice to hit the airwaves in 2022 as more than 70-percent of their season will be on national television.
In an 11-game schedule, A&M will be featured six times by traditional networks, beginning with CBS Sports Network carrying the season-opening UAB contest. Also being picked up will be Troy (ESPN3), Florida A&M (ESPN+), Alabama State (ESPN Networks), Mississippi Valley State (ESPNU) and Jackson State (ESPN+).
That slate plays to the fan that can't get to all the road games as every single one of those six games are on the road. A&M will also see a pair of home games aired on the new endeavor that is HBCUGo, with those being the October 8 game against Grambling and the regular season finale with Texas Southern on November 19.
NATIONAL TV BROADCAST SCHEDULE
9/1/22 at UAB (CBS Sports Network)
9/10/22 at Troy (ESPN3)
9/24/22 at Florida A&M (ESPN+)
10/8/22 vs. Grambling (HBCUGo)
10/29/22 at Alabama State (ESPN+)%
11/3/22 at Mississippi Valley State (ESPNU)
11/12/22 at Jackson State (ESPN+)$
11/19/22 vs. Texas Southern (HBCUGo)
%Magic City Classic in Birmingham, Alabama
$Gulf Coast Challenge in Mobile, Alabama
ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY DELTA DEVILS
Following a promising 2021 campaign that saw them go 4-7 and hang with programs like No. 16 Jackson State (28-19 loss), Mississippi Valley State is experiencing a completely different season in 2022.
The Delta Devils enter Thursday night at 0-8 overall and 0-5 in the SWAC, having dropped non-conference games to Tarleton State (29-13 on 9/1), Austin Peay (41-0 on 9/10) and NCAA Division II Delta State (28-17 on 9/17). MVSU has not fared any better in league play as they have scored in double-figures just once in those five outings.
No. 11 JSU (9/24) pounded out a 49-7 victory followed by Florida A&M (10/1) notching a 34-7 decision and Alcorn State (10/8) posting a 30-7 win. Alabama State (10/15) came out on top 24-9 before the Delta Devils put up their highest point total of the season in a 45-35 loss to Bethune-Cookman (10/22) last time out.
LET'S GET SERIE-OUS
Dating back to September 19, 1998, Alabama A&M holds
a commanding 20-3 record over Mississippi Valley State, that first one being a 20-12 victory at Louis Crews Stadium.
It would also be the first of eight straight victories that culminated with a 27-13 win back in Huntsville on September 17, 2005. The Delta Devils would get their first win in the series the following year when they pulled out a 23-20 decision in Itta Bena before going on to lose the next six from September 15, 2007 through October 6, 2012.
The Bulldogs enter the meeting with a five-game win streak in the series dating back to a 35-16 drubbing of MVSU in the Delta on September 10, 2016. Last year they extended that run with a dominant 42-14 victory at Louis Crews on November 6.
Series Flashback
Even with a 17-game advantage in the series, the Bulldogs have played some close games with the Delta Devils, and perhaps none of those was more important than a 17-12 decision on November 21, 2009.
That game would take place at Louis Crews Stadium and earn A&M the SWAC East Division Title and a berth in the SWAC Championship Game. Check out
the full recap to get all the details on one of the most impactful games in the series history against Mississippi Valley State.
Scouting The Alabama A&M University Bulldogs
Record: 3-5, 3-2 SWAC
Last Time Out: L, 24-17 vs. Alabama State on October 29
Streak: One Loss
Quick Links
Football Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders
Passing Yards: Xavier Lankford – 1,067
Passing Touchdowns: Xavier Lankford – 5
Completions: Xavier Lankford – 96
Completion Percentage: Quincy Casey – .580
Rushing Yards: Donovan Eaglin – 594
Rushing Touchdowns: Donovan Eaglin
– 5
Carries: Donovan Eaglin – 113
Receiving Yards: Isiah Cox – 291
Receiving Touchdowns: Isiah Cox – 3
Receptions: Brian Jenkins, Jr. – 28
Individual Statistical Defensive Leaders
Tackles: Dre Terry – 50
Tackles (Solo): Zareon Hayes – 22
Tackles (Assisted): Dre Terry – 31
Tackles For Loss: Zareon Hayes – 13.5
Sacks: Thomas Douglas, JaBraun McNeal – 3.0
Interceptions: Moses Douglass, Avian Rice – 2
Individual Statistical Special Team Leaders
Field Goals Made: Victor Barbosa – 6 (6-of-9)
Punting Yards: Troy Lendvay – 736
Touchbacks: Zach Alvarez – 2
Inside 20-Yard Line: Troy Lendvay – 7
Punt Returns: Isiah Cox – 6
Punt Return Yards: Isiah Cox – 55
Kickoff Returns: Terrell Gardner – 9
Kickoff Return Yards: Terrell Gardner – 162
Team Statistics
Scoring: 21.0
Passing: 209.0
Rushing: 147.9
Total Offense: 356.9
Touchdowns: 21
Kickoff Return Average: 17.8
Punt Return Yards Average: 7.89
Time of Possession: 34:48
Sacks: 17
Interceptions: 7
Tackles: 605
Tackles For Loss: 68.0
Scouting The Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils
Record: 0-8, 0-5 SWAC
Last Time Out: L, 45-35 vs. Bethune-Cookman on October 22
Streak: Eight Losses
Quick Links
Football Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
Individual Statistical Offensive Leaders
Passing Yards: Jamari Jones – 795
Passing Touchdowns: Jamari Jones – 8
Completions: Jamari Jones – 61
Completion Percentage: Jamari Jones – .540
Rushing Yards: Caleb Johnson – 473
Rushing Touchdowns: Caleb Johnson, Jakobe Thomas
– 2
Carries: Caleb Johnson – 123
Receiving Yards: Jacory Rankin – 253
Receiving Touchdowns: Jacory Rankin – 4
Receptions: Jacory Rankin – 18
Individual Statistical Defensive Leaders
Tackles: Ronnie Thomas – 45
Tackles (Solo): Fredrick McGee – 31
Tackles (Assisted): Ronnie Thomas – 17
Tackles For Loss: Ronnie Thomas – 14.5
Sacks: Ronnie Thomas – 8.5
Interceptions: Abdural Lee, Kalib Alexander – 2
Individual Statistical Special Team Leaders
Field Goals Made: Orlando Fernandez – 2 (2-of-7)
Punting Yards: Orlando Fernandez – 4,510
Touchbacks: Orlando Fernandez – 17
Inside 20-Yard Line: Orlando Fernandez – 20
Punt Returns: Donald Johnson III – 6
Punt Return Yards: Donald Johnson III – -10
Kickoff Returns: Donald Johnson III – 24
Kickoff Return Yards: Donald Johnson III – 534
Team Statistics
Scoring: 11.8
Passing: 120.6
Rushing: 138.6
Total Offense: 259.3
Touchdowns: 12
Kickoff Return Average: 21.6
Punt Return Yards Average: 0.8
Time of Possession: 29:24
Sacks: 15
Interceptions: 4
Tackles: 621
Tackles For Loss: 55.5
