ITTA BENA, Miss — Cornelious Brown IV tossed five touchdown passes as the Alabama A&M University football team won its third straight game, rolling past Mississippi Valley State, 49-35, on Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game.
Brown threw two touchdowns in the opening half of 29 and 14 yards, and adding three more in the second half of 35, 9 and 13 yards as Alabama A&M (6-5 overall, 4-3 SWAC) racked up 508 total yards of offense.
Mississippi Valley State (1-11, 1-7) got the ball to begin the game, moving to the AAMU before quarterback Ty'Jarian Williams was picked off by Kaleb Dawson and returned to the Delta Devils 37.
The Bulldogs needed just four plays as Cornelious Brown IV connected with Devin Herring for a 29-yard touchdown as Alabama A&M jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 11:21 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Delta Devils responded with a 12-play, 73-yard drive as Jakobe Thomas scored on a 12-yard run, tying the game at 7 with just over six minutes left in the first.
Back came Alabama A&M, mixing the run and pass as Donovan Eaglin burst through the MVSU defense for a 37-yard touchdown run, capping a 5-play, 68-yard drive, as the Bulldogs grabbed a 14-7 advantage with 4:22 left.
Mississippi Valley State took advantage of a fumble as the Delta Devils tied the game at 14.
With the Bulldogs in MVSU territory, Brown connected with Herring, who fumbled the ball at the Delta Devils 25.
Mississippi Valley State cashed the turnover into seven points as Williams connected with Nathan Rembert for a 38-yard touchdown, tying the game, with 13:10 left in the half.
Alabama A&M turned it over on downs on its next offensive series and MVSU went right back to work.
The Delta Devils went 54 yards in six plays as Williams scored on a 9-yard keeper as Mississippi Valley State grabbed a 21-14 lead with just over six minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs answered with a 5-play, 50-yard drive as Brown found Herring on a 14-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 21 with 4:38 left.
Mississippi Valley State quickly responded as Williams connected for DePhabian Fant for a 66-yard touchdown as the Delta Devils took a 28-21 advantage with 2:40 remaining.
The Bulldogs closed the first half strong, tying the game at 28, as Eaglin scored on a 23-yard touchdown run, capping a 6-play, 60-yard drive.
Alabama A&M got the ball to begin the second half, but Brown was picked off. However, MVSU turned the ball over on downs at their own 38 and the Bulldogs capitalized.
After an Eaglin 3-yard run and an incomplete pass, Brown hooked up with DJ Nelson for a 35-yard touchdown as AAMU grabbed a 35-28 advantage with just under 12 minutes remaining in the third.
A Donivan Wright 26-yard punt return set up Alabama A&M's next score as Donovan Payne hauled in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brown as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 42-28 with 8:25 left.
Brown tossed his fifth touchdown pass, this time connecting for 13 yards with Keenan Hambrick as Alabama A&M stretched the margin to 49-28 with 3:15 remaining in the third.
The Delta Devils added a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, but could not get any closer.
CHECKING THE BOX SCORE
- Alabama A&M finished with 508 total yards, including 296 through the air
- The Bulldogs registered 27 first downs
- Cornelious Brown IV went 19 of 28 passing for 252 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception
- Donovan Eaglin rushed 14 times for 105 yards
- Donivan Wright caught four passes for 79 yards and added two scores
- Dorian Wesley registered seven total tackles, including six solo stops
- Kaleb Dawson recorded five tackles and a pair of interceptions
- Mississippi Valley State finished with 481 total yards, with 347 through the air
- The Delta Devils registered 26 first downs
- Ty'Jarian Williams went 12 of 28 passing for 275 yards, with a pair of touchdowns and two interceptions
- Cayden Betts had 48 yards rushing on nine attempts
- Nathan Rembert caught five passes for 107 yards and one score
- Donovan Parham paced the defense with 10 total tackles
NEWS & NOTES
- Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State met for the 36th time
- The Bulldogs improved to 26-10 all-time against the Delta Devils
- AAMU has now won two straight in the series
- For the first time this season, the Bulldogs were tied at the half with an opponent
- Donovan Eaglin rushed for more than 100 yards for the third consecutive game (Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State)
- Alabama A&M played three quarterbacks – Cornelious Brown IV (started), Xavier Lankford and Ashley Tucker Jr.
- Xavier Lankford surpassed 3,000 career passing yards in the first half
- Carson Vinson became the first HBCU player to earn invite to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its season with a Thanksgiving road trip as the Bulldogs visit Florida A&M on Friday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. (central) from Bragg Memorial Stadium and televised on ESPN+.
