One Win, Then the Number One

Run Down the Yard, Week 7: how the top ten HBCU programs in the FCS played it out.

Tennessee State had one win.

It was playing the number one team in the Black College Football Poll.

By the end of the third quarter, it had all the points it needed.

That was the weekend in the Yard. A one-win team beat the top-ranked team. A quarterback threw five touchdown passes and lost. Alabama A&M scored 44 points in a row, and the school that rose to number one in Monday’s poll got there by coming from behind.

The top ten below is the Black College Football Poll released October 19, from No. 10 to No. 1. Every school is listed with where it ranked a week ago, where it stood going in and where it stands now. Three of the ten did not play.

No. 10 Prairie View A&M 41, Alcorn State 38

Prairie View won a homecoming that kept changing hands at Panther Stadium at Blackshear Field, and its decisive possession ended with a field goal with 1:56 left.

The Panthers lost a fumble on their second offensive play. Their defense answered: at 13:12 of the first quarter, Malik Gucake sacked Jaylon Tolbert, recovered his fumble and returned it 61 yards for the opening touchdown. Tevin Carter ran 54 yards for another touchdown, and Prairie View led 21–7 before the first quarter was over.

Alcorn State did not go away. Jaylon Tolbert threw five touchdown passes, three of them to Fredrick Robertson, who caught a 13-yarder, a 63-yarder and a 16-yarder. It was 28–28 when Ethan Eddins kicked a 31-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, and Alcorn went back in front, 35–31, in the third quarter.

Prairie View’s fourth-quarter answer was a four-play touchdown drive. It went 91 yards in four plays, with Jahbari Kuykendall breaking runs of 46 and 27 yards, and Carter finished it from 18 yards out. Alcorn tied it at 38 with a 25-yard field goal at 7:01 of the fourth, not a touchdown, after Prairie View kept the Braves out of the end zone.

Then came the winning drive. Prairie View went 47 yards in seven plays and used 4:59, and Eddins kicked a 37-yard field goal with 1:56 left. Alcorn’s last possession ended on downs.

Alcorn outgained Prairie View 505–397. Prairie View ran for 235 yards, and Carter accounted for four touchdowns, two passing and two running, with 150 yards through the air and 80 on the ground.

Head coach Tremaine Jackson spoke about the win on the SWAC media call on October 19. “Ultimately, we were able to win homecoming, which was the goal,” he said. It was Prairie View’s first game since Jackson promoted Clifford Fedd to offensive coordinator, a change Jackson explained before the game. Prairie View returns to the top ten at 3–5, 3–2 in the SWAC, and plays East Texas A&M on October 24 in a nonconference game.

No. 9 Norfolk State

Norfolk State was idle and slipped from No. 8. The Spartans are 4–3 and 0–0 in the MEAC, and they open league play at South Carolina State on October 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

No. 8 Bethune-Cookman 34, Mississippi Valley State 14

Bethune-Cookman trailed first and then took the game away at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena. It is back in the top ten at No. 8.

Mississippi Valley State scored first, less than three minutes in, on a 47-yard run by Josh Brown. The Wildcats’ early possessions were rough, with two interceptions thrown by Amari Jones, the second one in the end zone. Then Tyler Jefferson took over the offense. He tied it at 7–7 with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Rickie Shaw II and ran in from two yards with 2:47 left in the half, and Bethune-Cookman led 14–7 at the break.

The separating plays came on long downs. Late in the third quarter, on third and 12, Jefferson ran 12 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth, on third and eight, he found Shaw for another 23-yard score, and it was 28–7. Valley answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Dayvian Bluitt at 10:44, and then Jaden Davis closed it. With 50 seconds left he returned a fumble 61 yards for a touchdown. The two-point try failed, and the final was 34–14.

Davis had three interceptions, nine tackles and a sack to go with the return touchdown, and Bethune-Cookman Athletics’ report called it “a game to remember.” Jefferson threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more, and Shaw had five catches for 80 yards.

Valley outgained the Wildcats 325–304, but it committed 15 penalties for 153 yards and lost the ball four times. Bethune-Cookman held it for 35:35 and converted six of 15 third downs, to Valley’s three of 13. The Wildcats are 4–3 and 2–1 in the SWAC, and they host No. 1 Jackson State on October 24 at 1 p.m. ET.

No. 7 Grambling State, Alabama A&M 61, Grambling State 31

For a quarter and a half, this was Grambling’s game.

Tyson George caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jacobe Robinson, Diego Alfaro kicked a 35-yard field goal, and Andre Crews ran 11 yards for a touchdown. Grambling led 17–3 early in the second quarter at Louis Crews Stadium in Normal.

Then Alabama A&M got going. Cornelious Brown IV ran for an eight-yard score, then threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Jaylan Bean, and David Faulk kicked a 56-yard field goal on the last play of the half. Alabama A&M led 19–17 at the break. Grambling had the lead and gave it away before halftime.

The third quarter ended it. Alabama A&M scored five touchdowns, four of them through the air, and won the quarter 35–8. Grambling’s kickoff-return fumble handed A&M the ball at the Grambling 19, and the Bulldogs scored in two plays. Alabama A&M reached 47–17 before Grambling answered with a kickoff-return touchdown, and it was 54–25 going into the fourth. The final was 61–31.

George was the bright spot, with seven catches for 93 yards and a touchdown. Linebacker Marcellius Johnson had 14 tackles. But Grambling ran only 52 plays to Alabama A&M’s 79, converted two of 12 third downs and finished with 241 yards, 149 of them passing.

Alabama A&M defensive coordinator Chris Shelling said afterward, “We have to get off the field on third down,” on the school’s October 18 Football Review. Grambling went from 2–1 to 2–2 in the SWAC and fell from No. 4 to No. 7. It is off October 24 and goes to Texas Southern on October 31.

A play that mattered: early in the third quarter, with Alabama A&M ahead 26–17, Grambling fumbled the kickoff return, and A&M took over at the Grambling 19. The Bulldogs scored 39 seconds of game time later on a 14-yard run by Kolton Nero.

No. 6 Alabama State 21, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 15

At Simmons Bank Field in Pine Bluff, the team that gained more yards lost.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff kicked two first-quarter field goals and led 6–0. Then Jareese Howard took over. He ran seven yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter, and 34 yards for another with 1:08 left in the half, and Alabama State led 14–6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff answered with a seven-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left, but missed the two-point try, and it was 14–12 at the break.

Alabama State scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, a three-yard run by Jamarie Hostzclaw to finish an 11-play, 78-yard drive that used six minutes. It was 21–12. Arkansas-Pine Bluff added a field goal with 4:36 left, and the last minutes were tense. A punt pinned Arkansas-Pine Bluff at its own 8 with 1:51 left. On fourth and three, Ta’Shaun Sims intercepted the last pass, Alabama State took over with 25 seconds left, and it ran out the clock.

The Golden Lions gained 397 yards to Alabama State’s 284 and had 24 first downs to 15. But they scored one touchdown and three field goals, and Alabama State scored three touchdowns. Howard ran for 75 yards. Arkansas-Pine Bluff head coach Alonzo Hampton told the Pine Bluff Commercial, “We threw too many passes.”

Alabama State is 4–3 and 2–2 in the SWAC, up from No. 9 to No. 6. It is off October 24, and then it plays Alabama A&M in the Magic City Classic at Legion Field on October 31. Arkansas-Pine Bluff is 3–3 and 1–2.

A play that mattered: in the closing minutes, on third and three, Howard caught a 12-yard pass to keep the Hornets’ drive alive. It was a reception, not a run, and it set up the punt that pinned Arkansas-Pine Bluff at the 8.

No. 5 Delaware State

Delaware State was idle and moved up one spot from No. 6. The Hornets are 4–3 and 0–0 in the MEAC, and they host North Carolina Central on Friday, October 23.

No. 4 Morgan State, Tennessee State 25, Morgan State 16

Morgan State led twice and lost.

Tennessee State came out swinging at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. A 50-yard touchdown pass from Jaden Jones to Cam Bulluck capped a four-play, 81-yard drive, and a 25-yard field goal by freshman Preston Hurless made it 9–0. Keith Jenkins Jr. ran 28 yards for Morgan’s first score, and a 22-yard field goal by Gavin Fetty put the Bears in front, 10–9. Tennessee State answered with a touchdown with 22 seconds left in the half, a 19-yard pass from Daylin Lee to Brock Montgomery, and led 15–10 at halftime.

Morgan opened the third quarter with a 70-yard drive. Cameron Edge threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Towler at 11:18, and Morgan led 16–15 after a failed conversion. Then came the drive that changed it. Tennessee State went 18 plays and 65 yards and used 7:31, and it ended with Hurless’s 27-yard field goal. Tennessee State led 18–16, and Morgan’s next possession moved backward and ended in a punt.

A small mistake became a big one. Morgan was called for running into the kicker on a 33-yard field goal try, which wiped out a miss. Fourth and seven at the Morgan 16 became fourth and two at the 11. Lee threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Francisco Pratts III with 13 seconds left in the quarter, and it was 25–16. Nobody scored in the fourth. Morgan’s last real possession ended on a failed fourth down.

Jenkins ran for 113 yards and a touchdown, and Lee threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Morgan was two of 11 on third down and one of three on fourth. Tennessee State was seven of 17 on third and two of two on fourth. The yardage gap was only 59, but Tennessee State ran 12 more plays.

Head coach Damon Wilson said in Morgan State’s postgame recap, “We have to protect the football and play better on third down.” Morgan is 5–2, still 0–0 in the MEAC, and it opens league play at home against Howard on October 24 at 3 p.m. ET. Tennessee State is 2–5.

A play that mattered: the penalty. Without it, the 33-yard miss stands, and Morgan takes over trailing 18–16 with 20 seconds left in the third quarter.

No. 3 South Carolina State

South Carolina State was idle and moved up two spots from No. 5. The Bulldogs are 5–2 and 0–0 in the MEAC, and they host Norfolk State on October 24 at 1:30 p.m. ET, a league opener for both.

No. 2 Alabama A&M 61, Grambling State 31

Alabama A&M turned a 14-point deficit into a 30-point win.

The story is the quarterback and the receiver. Cornelious Brown IV threw for 417 yards and five touchdowns. Jaylan Bean caught 10 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns: the 61-yarder before halftime, and in the third quarter a six-yarder, a 67-yarder and a 19-yarder. The 67-yard touchdown finished a three-play, 80-yard drive that took a minute and six seconds. Alabama A&M finished with 669 yards to Grambling’s 241, and 433 of them were passing yards.

Head coach Sam Shade said on the school’s October 18 Football Review, “we can’t lose our cool,” and the Bulldogs did not. From 17–3 down they scored 44 points in a row, the most telling number of the day, and won the third quarter 35–8. Faulk’s 56-yard field goal on the last play of the first half is the kick that put them in front.

Alabama A&M is 6–2 and 3–1 in the SWAC, up from No. 3 to No. 2. It is off October 24, and then it plays Alabama State in the Magic City Classic at Legion Field on October 31.

No. 1 Jackson State 27, Florida A&M 17

At Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Jackson State was a week removed from its first loss of the season, and it needed the fourth quarter to answer it.

It started even. Caron Tyler ran eight yards for Jackson State’s first score, Armond Parker answered with a five-yard run, and a 23-yard Florida A&M field goal made it 10–7. Jackson State was in front 12–10 at halftime, thanks to a 31-yard field goal by Andrew Ivaniciuc with 39 seconds left and a safety six seconds later. Then Jamal Hailey broke an 81-yard touchdown run for Florida A&M early in the third quarter, and Florida A&M led 17–12 going into the fourth.

Jackson State scored 15 points in less than three minutes. Jared Lockhart threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jabari Jones, and Lockhart ran in the two-point conversion himself, 20–17 with 12:21 left. Terrance Hibbler Jr. recovered a fumble after a sack at the Florida A&M 29, and four plays later Nate Blount IV ran in from two yards out, 27–17 at 9:49.

Jackson State got there with takeaways. It had five, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and one of them was a muffed punt in the second quarter that is easy to forget. Head coach T.C. Taylor told the Clarion Ledger, “When you’re at this point of the year, turnovers matter.”

Florida A&M actually averaged more yards a play, 327 yards on 58 snaps. But Jackson State ran 86 plays, rushed 49 times for 228 yards and held the ball for 36:07. Blount had 63 rushing yards and the insurance touchdown.

Jackson State is 6–1 and 3–1 in the SWAC, with 13 first-place votes in the poll. It goes to Bethune-Cookman on October 24 at 1 p.m. ET.

A play that mattered: Lockhart’s two-point conversion after the go-ahead touchdown. It made the lead three, not one, and the next touchdown made it ten.

Three more games that mattered

Sacred Heart 35, Hampton 21. At Sikorski Credit Union Field in Fairfield, Sacred Heart led 14–7 at the half and outscored Hampton 21–14 after it. A 24-yard Hampton punt gave Sacred Heart the ball at the Hampton 31, and it became the Pioneers’ third touchdown in four second-half possessions, 35–14 with 10:08 left. Hampton scored again at 5:32, too late. Hampton is 1–6 and 0–3 in the CAA, and it hosts Monmouth on October 24.

North Carolina A&T 27, Chicago State 12. At Truist Stadium in Greensboro, the Aggies led 27–0 after three quarters, and both Chicago State touchdowns came in the fourth. North Carolina A&T had 10 tackles for loss and two interceptions in its third straight home win. It is 3–5 and 2–2 in the CAA, off on October 24, and it hosts Elon on October 31.

Howard 31, Morehouse 17. At Howard’s homecoming in Washington, it was tied 17–17 after three quarters. Howard scored on a one-yard run with 6:50 left and a seven-yard run with 48 seconds left, 14 straight points. Howard is 3–4 and visits Morgan State on October 24. Morehouse is a Division II HBCU.

The state of the Yard

SWAC. Jackson State and Alabama A&M are both 3–1 after their wins. Bethune-Cookman is 2–1 and hosts Jackson State next, which makes that the East game to watch. Prairie View A&M is 3–2. Alcorn State, Grambling State, Alabama State and Mississippi Valley State are all 2–2.

MEAC. Morgan’s loss changes the nonconference story, not the league race: every school is still 0–0, and league play starts this week. North Carolina Central is at Delaware State on Friday, October 23. On Saturday, Howard is at Morgan State and Norfolk State is at South Carolina State.

Other FCS HBCUs. Tennessee State is 2–5 overall and 0–2 in its league, and it hosts Charleston Southern on October 24. Hampton hosts Monmouth, and North Carolina A&T is off before it hosts Elon on October 31.

A one-win team beat the number one, and the new number one came from behind.

Harry B. and TLP use AI to research and assist in the publication of this article. AI makes mistakes, so please check for yourself.