THE HILL | Kolton Nero rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns, and
Cornelious Brown IV accounted for three more scores as the Alabama A&M University football team defeated Texas Southern 35-6 on Saturday in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at Louis Crews Stadium on Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day.
The Bulldogs (8-3 overall, 5-2 SWAC) finished 6-0 at home and took sole possession of first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division after Alabama State defeated Jackson State 20-13 in Montgomery. Alabama A&M can clinch the division title with a win next Saturday at Mississippi Valley State.
Alabama State took a 14-0 lead before Jackson State pulled within 14-13. The Hornets scored the final six points and sealed the win with an interception with six seconds left.
Alabama A&M forced a punt on Texas Southern's opening possession, then drove 60 yards in eight plays. Nero capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs ahead 7-0 with 11:22 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs forced a turnover on the Tigers' next possession. Brown then found
Byron Perrilliat for a 45-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 2:25 left in the first quarter.
Brown finished an eight-play, 68-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21-0 with 13 minutes left in the second quarter.
Brown connected with
Jordan Chambers-Smith for a 13-yard touchdown just before halftime to give Alabama A&M a 28-0 lead.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with an eight-play, 70-yard drive. Nero scored on a 20-yard run to make it 35-0 with 11:02 left in the third quarter.
David Kency Jr. scored the lone touchdown for Texas Southern (3-7, 2-5) on a 78-yard run down the left sideline with 5:35 remaining.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Alabama A&M finished with 430 yards of offense, including 229 rushing yards.
- The Bulldogs recorded 26 first downs.
- Brown completed 18 of 24 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown.
- Nero rushed 18 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaylan Bean caught four passes for 59 yards.
- Texas Southern finished with 251 yards of offense, including 182 rushing yards.
- The Tigers recorded 12 first downs.
- Cam'Ron McCoy completed 6 of 15 passes for 61 yards.
- Kency rushed five times for 105 yards and a touchdown.
- Roriyon Richardson caught two passes for 46 yards.
NEWS AND NOTES
- The teams met for the 21st time. Alabama A&M leads the series 16-5 and has won six of the last seven meetings.
- Texas Southern's last win in Huntsville was a 12-10 victory in 2013.
- Alabama A&M reached eight wins for the first time since 2011, when it finished 8-4.
- The Bulldogs are receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll.
- Alabama A&M entered the game at No. 4 in the Black College Football Poll after dropping from No. 1 following its loss at Prairie View A&M.
- The Bulldogs have scored a rushing touchdown in eight consecutive games.
- Alabama A&M is 3-2 this season when wearing its maroon helmets.
- The Bulldogs held Texas Southern to 17 yards in the second quarter.
- Brown played in his 54th career game and his 27th for Alabama A&M.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M closes the regular season against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, Miss. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT, and the game will stream 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).
