By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Sam Shade celebrate by holding the victory trophy after the
Bulldogs’ thrilling 23–21 win over Tennessee State in Nashville.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Quarterback Cornelious Brown IV threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while kicker Victor Barbosa added three field goals, as Alabama A&M edged Tennessee State 23–21 on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (2–1) started strong, taking a 10–0 lead behind Barbosa’s 26-yard field goal in the first quarter and Brown’s 5-yard touchdown strike to Myles Parker early in the second. But the Tigers (1–2) stormed back with two rushing scores — a 5-yard run by Kendric Rhymes and a 27-yard burst from Zack Simmons-Brown — to move ahead 14–10.
Barbosa cut the deficit with another 26-yard kick late in the half, but Tennessee State stretched the margin again when Byron McNair connected with Rhymes for a 22-yard touchdown pass with just 11 seconds left before halftime, making it 21–13.
The Bulldogs refused to fold. Brown answered in the third quarter with a 30-yard scoring strike to Daveon Walker, trimming the Tigers’ lead to one. Moments later, Barbosa delivered the game’s decisive points, nailing a 45-yard field goal with 51 seconds left in the third quarter.
The defense dramatically sealed the win. With 1:30 left, Wyatt Wright sacked McNair on third-and-11, forcing a fumble that Xzavier Booker recovered at Tennessee State’s 41. Alabama A&M ran out the clock from there to preserve the win.
Brown completed 21 of 33 passes, with Travaunta Abner leading receivers at six catches for 104 yards. McNair finished 17-of-27 for 157 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Tigers, while Rhymes carried 24 times for 111 yards.
The Bulldogs, now riding momentum at 2–1, return to SWAC play with renewed confidence as they continue building under head coach Sam Shade.