Alabama A&M Athletics

MOBILE, Ala. | Cornelious Brown IV threw three touchdown passes as Alabama A&M built a double-digit second-half lead, but No. 23 Jackson State rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points to defeat the Bulldogs, 31-28, in the Ninth Annual Gulf Coast Challenge on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Alabama A&M (4-2, 1-1 SWAC) carried a 21-10 advantage into the fourth quarter before Jackson State (5-0, 2-0) turned to its ground game and mounted its comeback.
 
After a pair of Alabama A&M punts to begin the game, Jackson State marched 80 yards in 10 plays, with Jared Lockhart connecting with Jabari Jones on a 6-yard touchdown pass to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead with 5:15 remaining in the opening quarter.
 
The Bulldogs answered quickly.
 
Brown went deep and connected with Jordan Chambers-Smith for a 67-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7 with 3:53 left in the first quarter.
 
Following a Jackson State punt, Alabama A&M put together a 12-play, 58-yard drive, capped by Brown's 10-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 advantage with 13:47 remaining in the first half.
Jackson State trimmed the deficit before halftime when Andrew Ivanicuic connected on a 19-yard field goal to finish an 11-play, 74-yard drive, sending Alabama A&M into the break with a 14-10 lead.
 
The Bulldogs extended their advantage in the third quarter after taking over with favorable field position. Brown found Jarel Williams for a 14-yard touchdown pass with exactly four minutes remaining in the period, pushing the Alabama A&M lead to 21-10.
 
Williams got one foot down in the end zone to complete the scoring play as the Bulldogs capped a 10-play, 48-yard drive.
 
Jackson State began its comeback with a 16-play, 72-yard drive, capped by Emari Matthews' 2-yard touchdown run to cut Alabama A&M's lead to 21-17 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
 
The Bulldogs answered with another explosive play.
Brown connected with Jaylan Bean down the left sideline for a 70-yard touchdown, giving Alabama A&M a 28-17 advantage with 8:22 to play.
 
Jackson State responded just 82 seconds later. The Tigers went 72 yards in four plays, with Li'Darious Pryor scoring on a 29-yard run to trim the Bulldogs' advantage to 28-24 with seven minutes remaining.
 
On Alabama A&M's ensuing possession, the Bulldogs turned the ball over, and Jackson State capitalized. Lockhart connected with Kobe Paul for a 17-yard touchdown, giving the Tigers their first lead since the opening quarter, 31-28, with just under six minutes remaining.
 
The Bulldogs were unable to answer as Jackson State completed the fourth-quarter comeback.

CHECKING THE BOX SCORE

• Alabama A&M finished with 358 yards of total offense, including 263 through the air.
• The Bulldogs recorded 16 first downs.
• Cornelious Brown IV completed 14 of 30 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score.
• Maurice Edwards IV led Alabama A&M on the ground with 36 yards on nine carries.
• Imari Conley caught five passes for 42 yards.
• Jordan Chambers-Smith finished with two receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown.
• DJ Barber led the Bulldogs defensively with 11 total tackles, including one sack.
• Jackson State finished with 405 yards of total offense, including 236 rushing yards.
• The Tigers registered 25 first downs.
• Jared Lockhart completed 15 of 32 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
• Nate Blount IV rushed 18 times for 90 yards.
• Nate Rembert finished with seven receptions for 108 yards.
• J'Cori Hargon and Tymon Well each recorded six tackles for Jackson State.

NEWS AND NOTES

• Alabama A&M and Jackson State met for the 32nd time.
• Jackson State improved to 20-12 all-time against Alabama A&M.
• Jackson State head coach T.C. Taylor improved to 4-0 against Alabama A&M.
• The Tigers have won five consecutive games in the series.
• Alabama A&M is 3-19 against nationally ranked opponents during its Division I era, which began in 1999.
• The Bulldogs are 2-7 all-time in the Gulf Coast Challenge, with their most recent victory coming in 2021.
• Alabama A&M wore gray jerseys with maroon helmets for the Gulf Coast Challenge.
• The maroon helmets marked the first time in nearly four years — 1,430 days — that Alabama A&M wore the alternate helmets. The Bulldogs last wore them at Mississippi Valley State in 2022.
• Brown appeared in his 49th career game and his 22nd in a Maroon & White uniform.
• Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade remains three victories shy of 50 career wins.

UP NEXT
Alabama A&M returns home for the first of two consecutive games at Louis Crews Stadium, beginning Saturday, Oct. 10, when the Bulldogs host Bethune-Cookman.
Kickoff against the Wildcats for Alabama A&M's Breast Cancer Awareness Game is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the game streaming live on SWAC TV.
 
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics — the Rocket City's only Division I program — visit www.aamusports.com. Follow the Bulldogs on Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), X (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
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