This game got out of control quick, fast, and in a hurry. Alabama A&M football Quincy Casey turned the ball three plays into the opening drive with an interception, that Jackson State Keydrain Calligan was able to pick off, that Jacobian Morgan was able to rush in for a touchdown putting up Jackson State up 7-0 early in the game. Alabama A&M drove the ball down the field, and punted the ball back to Jackson State offense watching them drive the ball down the field to score a second touchdown. Ahmad Miller punched the ball in for the second Jackson State score putting Jackson State up 14-0. Alabama A&M receives the ball back for the third time and Quincy Casey fumbles the ball and Jackson State Davis recovers the ball on the 2 yard line. Jackson State up 21-0 midway through the first quarter.
Coach Maynor held up to his word, of if Casey started to play outside himself, he was going to bring someone else into the game to lead the bulldogs. Coach Maynor instantly brought Xavier Lankford into the game to run the offense. Alabama A&M offense began to instantly pickup. AAMU was 21 points in the hole and Lankford came into the game, leading the bulldogs down the field to score a touchdown to cut the lead down 21-7. The bulldogs defense slowed up the Jackson State offense forcing the Tigers to punt the ball. Lankford was looking to have the same magic leading the bulldogs down the field during his second series at the quarterback position and threw a interception.
The bulldogs defense held up keeping Jackson State from scoring off Lankford turnover, unfortunately the bulldogs wasn’t able to score additional points until Jackson State scored again on a touchdown pass from Jackson State quarterback Jason Brown to McCray. Even though Lankford begin to lead the Bulldogs offense on a charge to put points on the score board to get them within striking distance, Jackson State had pulled away and the clock wasn’t on the Bulldogs side. Lankford threw the ball 36 times completing 21 for 265 yards, 2 toucdowns and 2 interceptions and rushed the ball 10 time for 42 yards with 2 rushing touchdowns. Jackson State quarterback Brown threw the ball 26 times completing 14 for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Jason Brown throwing multiple touchdown passes to receivers in this game outside of Rico Powers who has been a mismatch nightmare for opposing teams defensive backs had 4 receptions for 17 yards. However Jackson State Seven McGee and 2 receptions for 20 yards, 2 touchdowns and Fabian McCray had 2 receptions for 82 yards and 1 touchdown.
Jackson State Irv Mulligan lead all running backs in this game rushing the ball 23 times for 118 yards averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Jackson State running backs definitely made there presence known in this game with Ahmad Miller rushing the ball 7 times for 57 yards, one touchdown and Jonathan Morgan had 2 rushes for 4 yards and 2 touchdowns.
At this time, Jackson State begin to pull away in Gulf Coast Challenge leaving Lankford and the Bulldogs offense fighting a heavy battle uphill to have a opportunity to win this game. Lankford went on to throw his second interception in the game allowing Jackson State to push the game further out of control.
Alabama A&M has a dangerous team that can impose there will on a opposing team defense whenever they play smart, mistake free football. Unfortunately today wasn’t the day and they came up short due to all of the turnovers losing this game 45-30. Jackson State is 2-1 in the SWAC Conference with an overall record of 4-2, while Alabama A&M is 3-3 overall and 1-2. Alabama A&M will play Grambling State for their homecoming and will definitely be looking to play spoiler, and Jackson State plays Alabama State for their homecoming.