THE HILL | Troy Bruce rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns as the Alabama A&M University football team held off Miles College, 38-23, on Saturday night in the 16th annual Louis Crews Classic at Louis Crews Stadium. The victory was the Bulldogs' first of the season.
Bruce carried the ball 11 times and averaged 13.2 yards per carry to lead a powerful Alabama A&M ground game.
A week after starting slowly against Howard, Alabama A&M's offense shifted into high gear on the opening drive.
Cornelious Brown IV found Imani Conley on back-to-back completions before
Kolton Nero scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 10:08 remaining in the first quarter.
Following a lightning delay, the Bulldogs marched 89 yards in 11 plays. Bruce capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, his first score of the season, to extend Alabama A&M's lead to 14-0 with just under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Miles (0-2) answered on its next possession with an eight-play, 80-yard drive. Brinley Vandiver scored on an 8-yard keeper to trim the deficit to 14-7 with 23 seconds remaining in the quarter.
The Bulldogs (1-1) drove to the Miles 17-yard line but settled for three points when
David Faulk booted a 34-yard field goal to cap a 13-play, 63-yard drive. The kick pushed Alabama A&M's advantage to 17-7 with 9:53 remaining in the half.
The Maroon and White struck again just before halftime as
Jordan Chambers-Smith hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brown with 33 seconds remaining, extending Alabama A&M's lead to 24-7.
The Bulldogs leaned on the ground game to open the second half, with Nero scoring from 7 yards out to stretch the advantage to 31-7.
Miles responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, capped by Vandiver's 4-yard keeper, to cut the deficit to 31-14 with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter.
Alabama A&M answered when Bruce scored on a 2-yard touchdown run, pushing the margin to 38-14 with just over two minutes remaining in the period.
Miles continued to battle as Roderick Thomas scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. The Golden Bears later recorded a safety to close the gap to 38-23 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
The Golden Bears could get no closer, and the Bulldogs secured their first victory of the season.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Alabama A&M finished with 471 total yards, including 279 on the ground.
- The Bulldogs recorded 28 first downs.
- Cornelious Brown IV completed 15 of 21 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown.
- Troy Bruce rushed 11 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
- Kolton Nero gained 87 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns.
- Jordan Chambers-Smith caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown.
- DJ Barber and Jeremiah Hudson-Davis each recorded 11 tackles.
- Miles finished with 329 total yards, including 208 through the air.
- The Golden Bears registered 21 first downs.
- Brinley Vandiver completed 26 of 39 passes for 208 yards.
- Vandiver rushed 11 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns.
- Edward Osley caught nine passes for 63 yards.
- Antonio White Jr. recorded eight tackles.
NEWS AND NOTES
- Alabama A&M and Miles College met for the 22nd time.
- The Bulldogs improved to 19-3 all-time against the Golden Bears.
- Alabama A&M head coach Sam Shade faced his former team for the first time.
- The game was delayed by more than an hour because of lightning.
- Alabama A&M has scored a rushing touchdown in both games this season.
- The Bulldogs have thrown at least one touchdown pass in four straight games dating to last season.
- David Faulk remained perfect on field-goal attempts this season after connecting from 34 yards.
- Troy Bruce became the first Alabama A&M running back to surpass 100 rushing yards since Ryan Morrow gained 136 yards on 18 carries against Florida A&M last season.
- Troy Bruce was named the SWAC TV Gatorade Player of the Game.
- Alabama A&M's 279 rushing yards were its most since gaining 233 against Florida A&M last season.
- The Maroon and White recorded 28 first downs, their most since totaling 29 against Mississippi Valley State last season.
- The Bulldogs surrendered a safety for the first time since their 2023 game at Vanderbilt.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs continue their three-game homestand next Saturday when Alabama A&M welcomes Tennessee State to Louis Crews Stadium. Kickoff for The Legacy Series contest is set 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 the official athletics website at www.aamusports.com. Follow the Bulldogs on Instagram (@aamuathletics), Facebook (aamubulldogathletics), X (@_aamuathletics) and TikTok (aamuathletics).
