After defeating Alabama State (4-3, 3-3 SWAC) by the score of 17-6 on the road two victories is all that stands between the Prairie View A&M Panthers (4-2, 3-2 SWAC) and their first winning season in over thirty years. The Panthers defense held ASU to just six points in what was the lowest point total for a Panther opponent this season.
Prairie View A&M’s offense struck first bringing the score to 3-0 after a successful Brady Faggard 44 yard field goal attempt.
Alabama State countered scoring on a one yard TD scamper by running back Jay Peck at the 3:47 mark of the first quarter. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful leaving the score at 6-3 ASU which was subsequently the score going into intermission. In the second half Prairie View A&M’s defense applied the clamps holding ASU’s offense scoreless throughout the entire half. Prairie View A&M eventually took the lead at the 3:02 mark of the third quarter after quarterback Mark Spivey found sophmore receiver Gabriel Osaze-Ediae on a slant route for a 14 yard touchdown strike.
The Panthers sealed the game at the 3:14 mark of the fourth quarter on a seven yard touchdown run by running back Donald Babers. Babers accounted for 132 total yards as he led PVAMU in all purpose yardage. Offensively PVAMU found a spark from its receiving core as Osaze-Ediae provided the Panthers offensive attack with five receptions for 71 yards and a go ahead touchdown.
Special teams was a key contributing factor in the Panthers victory. Freshmen punter Pedro Ventura punted the ball four times averaging 43.0 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards while place kicker Brady Faggard connected on one-of-two kick attempts.
Defensively Jon Johnson a 6-1, 250 pound defensive end from Houston, Texas caused havoc thru the entire contest. Johnson racked up 10 tackles (7 solo, 3 assisted) a sack and three quarterback hurries. Linebacker Zach East who led the nation in tackles per game going into the contest once again had a fine outing tallying 10 tackles (4 solo, 6 assisted) with 1.5 tackles for loss. For the game Prairie View A&M’s offense managed to accumulate 281 yards of total offense (150 R, 131 P). The Panthers held ASU to 251 total yards (153 R, 98 P).
PVAMU will now head into a bye week before hosting Mississippi Valley State for homecoming at Blackshear Field on Oct., 27th.
