A rapid-fire recap of SWAC action from the state of Texas
Mississippi Valley St. 27, Prairie View A&M 7
Prairie View A&M came into their SWAC regular-season finale looking to finish the season winning four of their last five games to clinch the top spot in the West Division and earn a berth in the SWAC Championship Game opposite East Divison champion, undefeated Jackson St.
The defenses dominated the first half, with the only score coming on an 8-yard touchdown run by Panthers QB Trazon Connley.
Mississippi Valley St. would finally get on the board just under six minutes into the third quarter on an Orlando Fernandez 26-yard field goal to pull the Delta Devils within four. Mississippi Valley St. would continue to control things in the third quarter, taking their first lead on a 15-yard touchdown pass by Jelani Eason after a fumble recovery set up the Delta Devils at the Prairie View 29-yard line. The turnovers would continue for the Panthers in the final minute of the quarter. Connley would throw an interception that was returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Kenneth Martin, giving Mississippi Valley St. a 17-7 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Delta Devils would continue their second-half domination putting up 10 more unanswered points in the final stanza to give Mississippi Valley St. the shocking 27-7 upset win.
Neither offense was able to reach 300 total yards, with A&M losing the turnover battle 4-2, including a costly pick six.
With the loss, Prairie View falls to 5-3 in the SWAC, squandering a chance to lock up the West Divison crown and a spot in the SWAC Championship Game versus Jackson St. If all falls right for the Panthers, they could still find their way into the championship game but won’t know their fate until the conclusion of the Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling.
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Alabama A&M 24, Texas Southern 20
Texas Southern wraps up their SWAC regular season slate on the road looking to keep their very slim hopes of winning the SWAC West alive. With a win over Alabama A&M, a Prairie View A&M loss, and some help, the Tigers would find themselves on top of the SWAC West and in the championship game opposite Jackson St.
The offenses were quiet in the first half, with Texas Southern going into the locker room with and 8-3 lead.
TSU would put up six more in the third quarter, giving them an 11-point lead, heading to the fourth.
The Tigers would get outscored 20-6 in the final quarter to fall to the Bulldogs 24-20.
Texas Southern QB Andrew Body would have a huge day in the loss, going 12-for-24, 191 yards, 2 TD through the air, along with 149 yards on 15 carries.
With the loss, TSU falls to 4-4 in SWAC play, ending their chances of winning the SWAC West and their season.