Alabama A&M (5-5 overall, 3-3 SWAC) trailed 17-3 in the second quarter and scored 19 unanswered points to storm from behind and claim the victory. Grambling State (5-6, 2-5) suffered another setback, with five one-score losses this season.

Donovan Eaglin totaled 123 yards, including 111 in the second half as the Alabama A&M University football team used a dominant second half to past Grambling State, 22-17, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game Thursday night at Louis Crews. Stadium.

GSU quarterback Myles Crawley was picked off on his first pass attempt, but Alabama A&M couldn’t get anything off the turnover and was forced to punt on its second offensive possession.

The Tigers started at their own 9, and after a 7-yard run by Ke’Traavion Hargrove, Crawley connected with Jalen Johnson for 67 yards to the Bulldog 7. However, the AAMU defense forced a stop and Reed Harradine threw a 23-yarder. field to cap the 7-play, 77-yard drive as Grambling State took a 3-0 advantage with 8:31 left in the first quarter.

The Bulldogs responded with a 13-play, 47-yard drive, falling behind more than six minutes as Victor Barbosa tied the game at 3 with a 45-yard field goal with 2:12 left.

Grambling State took advantage of an AAMU turnover as Cornelious Brown IV was stripped while throwing the ball by Jalen Rudolph and the ball was returned for a score by Andrew Jones 25 yards as the Tigers took a 10-3 advantage with 12:06. remaining in the half.

After an Alabama A&M punt, the Tigers drove 60 yards in just five plays as JR Waters recovered a 10-yard touchdown pass from Crawley as GSU extended the advantage to 17-3 with 7:24 to play.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 17-6 just before the break as Alabama A&M drove 74 yards in seven plays, aided by a personal foul targeting and an offsides call, as Barbosa kicked a field goal from 38 yards as time expired.

Grambling State got the ball back to start the second half, but quickly turned it over when Dedrick Talbert coughed up the ball as Dimitris Biamby forced the fumble, setting up the Bulldogs with excellent field position at the Tiger 34.

All it took was one play for Brown to connect with Keenan Hambrick over the middle for a 34-yard touchdown with 13:46 left. Brown converted the 2-point conversion as Alabama A&M cut the deficit to 17-14.

The Bulldogs continued to rally, using a 12-play, 47-yard drive as Barbosa kicked a 44-yard field goal, tying the game at 17 with 7:04 remaining.

Alabama A&M took its first lead of the night as Grambling State packed a two-pointer on a snap safety on a Tiger punt over the punter’s head and into the back of the end zone as the Bulldogs took a 19-17 advantage. with 46 seconds left.

The Bulldogs, who fell behind by more than eight minutes, took advantage of a passer personal foul penalty on their next offensive drive. AAMU drove 80 yards in 14 plays, aided by a huge 18-yard run by Donovan Eaglin, as Barbosa kicked a 19-yard field goal as Alabama A&M extended the lead to 22-17 with 7:20 to play.

Grambling State had an opportunity, but Javon Robinson dropped a wide-open pass on fourth down, giving Alabama A&M the ball with 3:22 left.

After a defensive stop by the Tigers, Kaleb Dawson sealed the victory for Alabama A&M with an interception with 1:35 remaining.

CHECK BOX SCORE

Alabama A&M finished with 388 total yards, including 160 rushing

The Bulldogs recorded 27 first downs

Cornelious Brown IV completed 20 of 35 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown

Donovan Eaglin had just 12 yards in the first half and finished with 123 yards on 25 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Keenan Hambrick caught eight passes for 99 yards and a score

Victor Barbosa was 4 of 4 on field goals

Jalen Wright and Marvin Smith each added seven tackles

Grambling State finished with 263 total yards, including 169 through the air

The Tigers recorded 12 first downs

Myles Crawley completed 12 of 27 passes for 169 yards, with two interceptions and a touchdown

Ke’Traavion Hargrove rushed eight times for 38 yards

Javon Robinson caught four passes for 44 yards

Andrew Jones made 15 tackles, including five solo stops

NEWS AND NOTES

For the first time in program history, Alabama A&M beat Grambling State three straight times.

This was the 32nd meeting between Alabama A&M and Grambling State.

The Bulldogs improved to 10-22 overall against the Tigers

Alabama A&M has now won back-to-back games for the second time this season

AAMU played two quarterbacks – Cornelious Brown IV (starting) and Xavier Lankford

In consecutive weeks the Bulldog offense turned the ball over, resulting in touchdowns (pick six and fumble return)

The Bulldogs owned the time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes

Alabama A&M picked up its first safety since September 30, 2023 (vs. Tuskegee) in the third quarter as the ball sailed over punters’ heads and out of the back of the end zone.

FOLLOWING

Alabama A&M returns to the road for its final two games of the season, starting next Saturday (Nov. 23) as the Bulldogs visit Mississippi Valley State. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. from Rice-Totten Stadium at Chuck Prophet Field and broadcast on The Grio.

*Original content published by AAMU Athletics