Box Score Huntsville, AL- On Saturday night, the Alabama A&M Bulldogs kicked off their 2023 football season against the Vanderbilt Commodores from the Southeastern Conference. Alabama A&M fell 47-13 at FirstBank Stadium.  
 
The first offensive drive of the season was 20 plays, 71 yards, and 8 minutes and 55 seconds, leading to a 21-yard field goal from Redshirt Sophomore Kicker Victor Barbosa. The Commodores would answer back with ten plays, 41 yards in 4 minutes and 29 seconds, leading to a 23-yard field goal by Vanderbilt. The Commodores would take a 5-3 lead ending the first quarter after the Bulldogs gave up a safety from a blocked punt.
 
Both teams were battling for field position in the early moments of the second quarter. The Commodores had an 8-play, 50-yard drive that took up 2:38 of the game clock.  Vanderbilt's QB AJ Swann threw a three-yard touchdown to extend their lead to  12-3. The Bulldogs punted in the following drive. Vanderbilt was looking to add more points entering halftime. Redshirt Safety Kaleb Dawson would get an interception, causing the Commodores to come up empty with no additional points on the board.  The score entering halftime was 12-3 in favor of the Commodores.
 
In the first half, Alabama A&M had 46 rushing yards and 56 passing yards to yield 103 offensively. The Bulldogs gave up 12 points and 135 yards, while the Commodores converted 60 percent on third down defensively.
 
As the second half began, Vanderbilt went down the field on a 6-play, 75-yard drive that took up 2 minutes and 42 seconds, extending their lead to 19-3. The Bulldogs responded with a jolt of energy in a two-play 73-yard drive. Junior A&M quarterback Xavier Lankford connected with Senior Wide receiver Terrell Gardner for a 62-yard touchdown pass, which made the score 19-10.  Vanderbilt would answer back, closing the quarter on an eight-play, 57-yard drive to extend their lead to 26-10, closing out the third quarter.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs would struggle as Vanderbilt would pull away and make this a one-sided matchup. The Bulldogs would give up 21 points in the final quarter of play.  The final score would result in a 47-13 loss in Nashville.
 
The Bulldogs look to grab their first win in the annual Louis Crews Classic on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 6 p.m. Alabama A&M will host the Lane College Dragons.  Join us as tickets are on sale and can be purchased here:
https://aamusports.com/sports/2023/3/28/tickets.aspx. 
 
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Don't forget to follow us on social media: Instagram(@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).