NORMAL — In front of nearly 20,000 fans, Alabama A&M’s ground game did most of the damage Saturday afternoon in a 45-25 Homecoming victory over Mississippi Valley State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game at Louis Crews Stadium.
The Bulldogs (4-3 overall, 1-2 SWAC) ran the ball 45 times for 254 yards, averaging nearly five yards per carry, while Maurice Edwards, Ryan Morrow and Kolton Nero scored touchdowns.
After a Mississippi Valley State punt, Alabama A&M set up shop at its own 44, but Bulldog quarterback Eric Handley was picked off by Kobe Byrd and returned to the AAMU 36. The Delta Devils capitalized off the turnover as Marko Jovisic booted a 45-yard field goal as MVSU grabbed a 3-0 lead with 11:47 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs were forced to punt on their next offensive possession and MVSU responded with an 81-yard, 9-play drive, highlighted by a 35-yard completion from Josh Brown to Mekhi Norris, as the Delta Devils pushed the lead to 9-0 after Brown found Caleb Brownlow for 16 yards, with just over six minutes to play.
Alabama A&M answered on its next series, highlighted by a 39-yard pass completion from Handley to Pierre. Four plays later, Handley threaded the needle for a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Chambers-Smith as the Bulldogs closed the gap to 9-7 with 3:28 left.
Back came MVSU on the very next drive as Norman Taylor scored from 1-yard out to cap a 9-play, 66-yard drive as the Delta Devils stretched the lead to 16-7 with 14:35 remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs responded by going 70-yards in 16 plays as Maurice Edwards scored on a 4-yard touchdown run as Alabama A&M cut the deficit to 16-14 with just over seven minutes left in the second quarter.
AAMU closed the half strong as David Faulk booted a 31-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 16-play, 57-yard drive as the Bulldogs took a 17-16 advantage into the break.
The Bulldogs capitalized on the momentum to open the second half as AAMU marched down the field with Handley connecting with Pierre for 16-yard touchdown, extending the advantage to 24-16 with 12:40 remaining in the third.
Mississippi Valley State (0-5, 0-2) responded on its opening series of the second half, moving the ball to the AAMU 7, before the drive stalled and the Delta Devils had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Jovisic, cutting the margin to 24-19 with 9:31 left.
Alabama A&M mixed the run and pass on its next drive, going 76 yards in 12 plays as Edwards went up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown, stretching the Bulldogs’ lead to 31-19 with 4:15 remaining.
Special teams contributed the next Alabama A&M points as Marko Dubak’s punt was blocked by Arenza Davis and returned to the MVSU 9. The Bulldogs needed just two plays as Ryan Morrow scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, extending the advantage to 38-19 with 1:57 left.
Alabama A&M put the game away with 10:51 remaining as Kolton Nero broke free down the left sideline for a 44-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulldogs a commanding 45-19 lead.
The Delta Devils closed out the scoring late in the fourth quarter.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Alabama A&M finished with 494 total yards, with 240 coming on the ground
- The Bulldogs registered 29 first downs
- Eric Handley went 24 of 32 passing for 247 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception
- Kolton Nero rushed seven times for 71 yards and one score
- Ryan Morrow carried the ball nine times for 52 yards and one touchdown
- Franck Pierre caught four passes for 88 yards and one score
- Wyatt Wright recorded 10 total tackles, with three solo stops
- Mississippi Valley State finished with 326 total yards, including 173 through the air
- The Delta Devils tallied 14 first downs
- Josh Brown went 9 of 18 passing for 123 yards and one touchdown
- Josh Brown ran eight times for 74 yards
- Mekhi Norris caught three passes for 57 yards
- Jalen Wright recorded nine tackles
- The Bulldogs controlled the clock, holding the ball of 35:05
NEWS & NOTES
- Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State met for the 37th time
- The Bulldogs improved to 27-10 all-time against the Delta Devils
- AAMU has now won three straight over MVSU
- Alabama A&M is 15-10 in Homecoming games, dating back to the 1999 season
- AAMU stretched its Homecoming winning streak to four consecutive games
- For the 12th straight game, the Bulldogs put points on the board in the opening quarter
- David Faulk has kicked field goals in three consecutive games
- Saturday’s attendance of 19,871 was the fifth largest in Louis Crews Stadium history
- Saturday’s victory marked the first SWAC win for AAMU head coach Sam Shade
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will have a week off before playing in the annual Amazon Magic City Classic, presented by Coca Cola, against rival Alabama State on Oct. 25. Kickoff against the Hornets is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Legion Field.
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