HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Donovan Eaglin ran for more than 200 yards and two scores, while Emari Pait grabbed a late interception as the Alabama A&M University football team ended the 2023 season with a 30-21 victory over Mississippi Valley State on Thursday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at Louis Crews Stadium.
 
Eaglin scored on touchdown runs of 17 and 67 yards, and Pait's interception sealed the win as Alabama A&M closed the season with a 5-6 overall record and 3-5 SWAC mark. Meanwhile, Mississippi Valley State ended the season on a five-game losing streak, with the lone win coming on Oct. 14 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
 
"We got off to a great start, jumping out 14-0," Alabama A&M head coach Connell Maynor said. "It is great to send the seniors off with a win and for us to build momentum going into the offseason. Donovan ran the ball extremely well and I am proud of how our guys came out and played from start to finish."
 
After a Mississippi Valley State punt, Alabama A&M began its opening series on its own 19. Four plays into the drive, Quincy Casey dialed up a 49-yard pass to Jacolby Hewitt, setting the Bulldogs up at the MVSU 19. Two players later, Donovan Eaglin capped the 81-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run as Alabama A&M jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 9:32 remaining.
 
A Delta Devil turnover on their next offensive possession led to more AAMU points.
 
With the ball at their own 39, the Bulldogs took to the ground game as Eaglin accounted for 30 yards. Meanwhile in the air, Casey connected with Hewitt for 17 yards, before hitting Cameron Young for the 14-yard touchdown strike as Alabama A&M extended the lead to 14-0 with 4:15 left.
 
Mississippi Valley State (1-10, 1-7) got on the board when Ty'Jarian Williams connected with Kerrick Ross, who sprinted 64 yards for the score as the Delta Devils trimmed the deficit to 14-7 with 2:46 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Bulldog defense accounted for AAMU's next score.
 
After an Alabama A&M punt, the Delta Devils were backed up to their own 11. Williams was strip sacked by Trenton Taylor as Marvin Smith jumped on the loose ball in the end zone as the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 21-7 with 10:51 remaining in the half.
 
The Bulldogs received the opening kick of the second half and needed just two plays as Eaglin busted through the middle for a 67-yard touchdown run as Alabama A&M added to the lead, 27-7 with 14:10 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Mississippi Valley State answered after an AAMU punt, going 31 yards in three plays as Williams scored on the 1-yard keeper, cutting the deficit to 27-14 with 8:03 left.
 
The Delta Devils continued to battle back as another big play trimmed the margin to 27-21 with 12:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Williams tossed his second touchdown, a 62-yard strike to Jaxson Davis and Mississippi Valley State pulled to within one score.
 
On the very next offensive possession, Casey was picked off, but the interception was wiped off the board because of a pass interference penalty. The Bulldogs used more than eight minutes off the clock and settled for a 37-yard field goal by Victoria Barbosa as Alabama A&M completed a 14-play, 50-yard drive in pushing the advantage to 30-21 with 4:29 left.
 
The very next offensive possession for MVSU resulted in a pick as the Aeneas Williams Award Semifinalist, Emari Pait, came up with the interception, setting the Bulldogs up at the MVSU 33 with 4:20 remaining. 
 
Barbosa missed a 27-yard field, but Mississippi Valley State could not capitalize as Alabama A&M picked up its fifth win of the season.
 
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Alabama A&M finished with 434 total yards of offense, including 264 on the ground
• The Bulldogs registered 19 first downs
• Quincy Casey went 12 of 20 passing for 170 yards, with one touchdown and one interception
• Donovan Eaglin rushed 27 times for 207 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry, and two scores
• Jacolby Hewitt caught four passes for 115 yards, averaging 28.8 yards per reception
• Jordan Mitchell recorded eight tackles, including a sack
• Mississippi Valley State finished with 268 total yards, including 223 through the air
• The Delta Devils recorded eight first downs
• Ty'Jarian Williams went 10 of 18 passing for 223 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception
• Jared Wilson tallied 26 yards on nine carries
• Kerrick Ross caught five passes for 94 yards and one score
• Jaxson Davis added five catches for 83 yards and one touchdown
• Jayren Fox registered eight tackles and one sack

NEWS & NOTES

• Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State met for the 35^th time
• The Bulldogs extended the series lead to 25-10 all-time against the Delta Devils 
• Alabama A&M improved to 7-3 over its last 10 games against MVSU
• The Bulldogs ended the 2023 campaign 4-1 at Louis Crews Stadium
• Alabama A&M finished the season by ending a three-game losing streak
• Mississippi Valley State ended the 2023 campaign on a five-game losing streak
• Prior to Thursday night's game, the last victory for both teams came on Oct. 14
• The Bulldogs surrendered 412 yards on the ground against Bethune-Cookman and held MVSU to just 45 rushing yards

For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
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