HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Donovan Eaglin ran for 207 yards and two touchdowns and Alabama A&M beat Mississippi Valley State 30-21 on Thursday night in the season finale for both teams.
The Bulldogs (5-6, 3-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) got a 115-yard receiving performance from Jacolby Hewitt, who did it with four receptions. Alabama A&M outgained the Delta Devils (1-10, 1-7) 435-268.
Alabama A&M built a 27-7 lead before Mississippi Valley State closed within 27-21. The Bulldogs made a field goal and their defense stiffened, securing an interception and forcing a turnover on downs on the Delta Devils' final possession.
Eaglin's 17-yard scoring run on the game's second drive made it 7-0 and Alabama A&M led for the remainder. Mississippi Valley State turned it over on the ensuing drive and the Bulldogs proceeded to go on a five-play, 61-yard drive that ended when Quincy Casey threw a 14-yard scoring pass to Cameron Young for a 14-0 lead. Eaglin's 67-yard scoring run made it 27-7.
Ty'Jarian Williams threw for 223 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Mississippi Valley State.
The Bulldog defense accounted for AAMU's next score.
After an Alabama A&M punt, the Delta Devils were backed up to their own 11. Williams was strip sacked by Trenton Taylor as Marvin Smith jumped on the loose ball in the end zone as the Bulldogs pushed the lead to 21-7 with 10:51 remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs received the opening kick of the second half and needed just two plays as Eaglin busted through the middle for a 67-yard touchdown run as Alabama A&M added to the lead, 27-7 with 14:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Mississippi Valley State answered after an AAMU punt, going 31 yards in three plays as Williams scored on the 1-yard keeper, cutting the deficit to 27-14 with 8:03 left.
The Delta Devils continued to battle back as another big play trimmed the margin to 27-21 with 12:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Williams tossed his second touchdown, a 62-yard strike to Jaxson Davis and Mississippi Valley State pulled to within one score.
On the very next offensive possession, Casey was picked off, but the interception was wiped off the board because of a pass interference penalty. The Bulldogs used more than eight minutes off the clock and settled for a 37-yard field goal by Victoria Barbosa as Alabama A&M completed a 14-play, 50-yard drive in pushing the advantage to 30-21 with 4:29 left.
The very next offensive possession for MVSU resulted in a pick as the Aeneas Williams Award Semifinalist, Emari Pait, came up with the interception, setting the Bulldogs up at the MVSU 33 with 4:20 remaining.
Barbosa missed a 27-yard field, but Mississippi Valley State could not capitalize as Alabama A&M picked up its fifth win of the season.
The Bulldogs moved their all-time series lead to 25-10 over Mississippi Valley State.